@Kate867 @Danny435 @Sarah977
Western sanctions against Russia are totally ineffective.
It is Russian sanctions against Nato and EU countries that are highly effective which is why the Russian Economy will narrowly escape a decline in GDP this year.
The Russian economy will post moderate growth or in the worst case scenario it will post zero growth but it won't decline in any significant way (even a moderate decline in Russian Rubles will be an impressive growth in USD terms as the Russian Ruble is now (after two months of sanctions) at its strongest level of the last four years!
Western economies (especially EU nations and the UK) will all decline by 1.2% to 4% in 2022 according to even the rosiest of prediction (this I write before the inevitable collapse in global equities that I think will happen this summer) along with 15% - 40% inflation for the 'little people'.
The issue is less the economic war between two blocks, more that the West is pursuing a clear anti-Russian agenda with unprecedented crackdowns on freedom of expression, banning of Russian tennis players unless they denounce their government and military, scrapping ballets and opera performances because they were written by Russians in the 19th century and other such ridiculous and draconian acts of insanity.
This is what we witness in the Orwellian nightmare that is unfolding in a Western World that refuses to see the writing of the wall and insists on 800 million 'enlightened' Westerners dictating to 6.7 billion non-western citizens of the globe.
The Western World continues to promote its societies as moral and free (hence effectively above the law as they can't do wrong) despite that past and present experience suggests it is immoral and increasingly authoritarian and anti-democratic.
A free and fair election is a necessary factor in any viable democracy but it is not sufficient of itself if it is complimented with logic defying tyrannical and inhumane policies.
By cutting off all Russian and Belarusian hosts and cancelling bookings from countries that freely visit Russia and also by not compensating all Russian and Belarusian guests who found themselves (both hosts and guests) in a situation entirely out of their control Airbnb exposed itself as yet another typical American Corporate that uses lofty idealism of a global community as a cynical PR tool to increase profits.
Of course Airbnb can't be blamed for withdrawing from Russia and Belarus (it is impossible for an American Corporate to operate their under current circumstances) but it could give a grace period of 2 to 3 months so that both hosts and guests prepare themselves to the new reality without leaving them high and dry.
