While some may claim the Sanctions are ineffective. They seem to be having a serious effect. Today Putin said that the implementation of Sanctions is a declaration of war.
President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Western sanctions on Russia were akin to a declaration of war and warned that any attempt to impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine would lead to catastrophic consequences for the world.
www.reuters.com
His stated goal now is to implement a pro Russian Government and demilitarize Ukraine.
So we are supposed to believe that tiny Ukraine is an intolerable threat to giant Russia?