Putin's former chief economic advisor says Russia would likely halt the Ukraine war 'within a month'
if the West slapped a full embargo on Russian oil and gas
https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-ukraine-putin-economic-adviser-halt-war-months-andrei-illarionov-2022-4
In an interview with the BBC's "Talking Business" program published Sunday, Andrei Illarionov, who advised Putin between 2000 and 2005, said the president was likely reassured by a continuing steady flow of energy-export revenue, which was allowing him to continue the war.
Illarionov said that if Western countries implemented "a real embargo on oil and gas exports from Russia," then "within a month or two, Russian military operations in Ukraine probably will be ceased." He added: "It's one of the very effective instruments still in the possession of the Western countries."
Russia's economy is forecast to shrink by as much as 15% this year after Western nations imposed sweeping sanctions and companies pulled out of the country in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
Illarionov predicted Russia would be spared complete economic devastation thanks to its strength with exports — particularly energy exports.