Sanctions will have no effect on Russia. The other countries will need Russia's help when it comes to matters in the Security Council.
Ordinary Russians were already extremely poor. Before the devaluation of currency, many were only making the equivalent of $400 a month and now that has declined. It doesn't really matter if foreign goods become more expensive because the poor were already living off made in Russia products.
The rich in Russia, and those who make money off the internet, are not affected. Actually it's normal thing for the rich of any country to want to devalue their own currency. The British elite, especially the ones who had most of their investments in $USD and EUR, made a killing after Brexit. Just like the Mexican and Canadian elites are making fortunes right now with their declining currencies.
The whole international system is setup where the working class and middle class person loses every time unless they stay ahead of real estate and currency manipulation. Parking most of your assets in $USD equivalents can help a lot, unless the US dollar loses value but the Petrodollar has survived all attempts of assault so far.
Consider Russia for example. Russia, like all countries, is people helping people do things, live and grow. Governments help people to become specialized in their occupation, and then share their work. The sharing is made simple with the tool of money.
But what happens when the Government misuses the tool, money? What happens when they don't know how to make it work for them and their people? The people become idle. They stop working. The get drink in their despair. They die.
Now, imagine that there is a landowner who gets a bunch of Russian people together to ply their occupations on his land. All the people work, and share their labor and abilities with each other. They share their strengths with the landowner, because he is supplying them with a place to work, and some of the raw materials they need to support life. Barter and Bitcoin take the place of money.
When this happens, the Government gets scared. They get scared that a new Government is rising. They send in their armies and destroy those people, people who are simply trying to live. Rather than freedom, there is only death.
This is the Russian Government. If
they can't make it happen for the people, they won't let anybody else make it happen for the people. Give the people life. Let them live. Down with the Russian Government.
