Will Sanctioning Oligarchs Change the War?

<p>Among the actions taken by the West to punish Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine is the blacklisting of the incredibly rich and politically connected Russian businessmen known as oligarchs.</p><p>But how could sanctions on Russia’s superwealthy increase the pressure on President Vladimir V. Putin to end the war?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/matt-apuzzo?smid=pc-thedaily">Matt Apuzzo</a>, a reporter for The New York Times, based in Brussels.</p><p>Have you lost a loved one during the pandemic? The Daily is working on a special episode memorializing those we have lost to the coronavirus. If you would like to share their name on the episode, please RECORD A VOICE MEMO and send it to us at <a href="mailto:thedaily@nytimes.com">thedaily@nytimes.com</a>. You can find more information and<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/podcasts/daily-memorial-covid.html"> specific instructions here</a>.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>For nearly a decade, sanctions have been little more than names on a list for wealthy Russians. Now, amid the war in Ukraine, governments<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/16/world/europe/russia-oligarchs-sanctions-putin.html"> are working to give them bite</a>.</li><li>Western investment, law and lobbying firms<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/business/russian-oligarchs-money-concord.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article"> have previously helped enmesh oligarchs</a> into financial and legal systems.</li></ul><p>Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>