You're reading: Obama gets bigger stick against Russia, but will he use it?

The latest U.S. sanctions drive to stop Russia's war against Ukraine gives President Barack Obama the means to arm, train and equip the Ukrainian army, as well as the opportunity to impose stiffer economic sanctions.

But Obama’s accompanying statement makes it clear that the act is intended primarily as a deterrent, warning Putin there is worse to come if he does not divert from his collision course with the West over Ukraine. 

“At this time, the administration does not intend to impose sanctions under this law, but the act gives the administration additional authorities that could be utilized, if circumstances warranted,” Obama explained. “My administration will continue to work closely with allies and partners in Europe and internationally to respond to developments in Ukraine and will continue to review and calibrate our sanctions to respond to Russia’s actions.”

That said, the Ukraine Freedom Support Act still provides for the possibility of US weapons, equipment and even training staff being deployed on Ukrainian soil – although the act makes clear it does not authorize actual intervention by American military forces.

The U.S. will, however, join the battle with Russia on another front – the propaganda war raging across former Soviet space. The act directs the chairman of national broadcasting to increase the amount of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Russian-language broadcasts into Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova — the three ex-republics trying to join the three Baltic nations in integrating with the West.

Russia’s increasingly obvious Achilles’ heel – its dependence on energy exports — is also targeted.  

The threat of sanctions now hangs over the head of big investors looking to profit from Russian crude oil projects, adding the risk of having unrelated US property, banking and stock transactions shut down to an already unpredictable prospect.

Members of Russia’s other infamous industry, arms, are also on the chopping block – with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s official weapons exporter, the only target specifically mentioned in this round of sanctions, but with the president empowered to select others.

Other interesting inclusions in the act are plans to increase support to Russia’s besieged civil society organizations and an opaque reference to expanding uncensored internet access that will have Putin’s cyber army on high alert.

Moscow’s reaction over the next few weeks will determine exactly how fraught this stand-off is, but in any case, the West and Russia are bracing themselves for a prolonged period of renewed confrontation.