A Defiant Russia Builds Barriers to U.S. Sanctions

MIN READMay 29, 2018 | 08:00 GMT

U.S. sanctions on Russia have hit Rusal hard. The Russian company is the world's second largest producer of aluminum.

(MIKE DOTTA/Shutterstock)

U.S. sanctions against Russia aren't really working the way Washington had hoped. As the pressure builds, Moscow continues to duck, bob and weave to avoid the harshest blows. The Kremlin remains defiant and is even punching back at U.S. interests. What's more, Russia is working on short-term and long-term strategies to insulate its people, businesses and economy from Western penalties. U.S. attempts to alter Russia's behavior are leading Moscow to turn away from the West more and more and are also forcing some Russian companies, including the aluminum giant Rusal, to remake themselves....