West develops four scenarios of anti-Russian sanctions

According to Kommersant, the US and the EU have developed four scenarios of anti-Russian sanctions that would be imposed depending on Moscow’s reaction to the Crimea referendum:

1. No sanctions will be imposed if Crimea postpones the referendum and Russia agrees on conditions of the US and the EU. The scenario is unlikely.

2. Limited sanctions will be imposed if Crimea votes to merge with Russia, while Moscow recognizes its independence. Contacts with Russia will remain frozen, G8 members will skip the summit in Sochi, visa and financial sanctions will be imposed for some Russian officials.

3. Russia will be kicked out of G8 if Moscow allows Crimea to merge. Military cooperation will be nullified. Some international meetings hosted by Russia may be boycotted. The US may imposed sanctions on some Russian companies. The US will continue cooperation with Russia in Syria, Iran and Afghanistan at best. Visas will not be issued and assets of some Russian legislators, high-ranking administrators, top managers of some corporations and Kremlin-related businessmen will be frozen. This scenario is the most likely.

4. Should any other Ukrainian territories, besides Crimea, decide to merge with Russia. The West will pass all the possible sanctions to isolate Russia as much as possible. Europe will take the measures gradually, due to interdependence of the EU and Russian economy.