This might hurt Colorado farmers and ranchers but you have to think it will hurt Russians even more since they have to import much of their food. They can go to other countries like Latin America, but might have to pay more. It would be funny if Latin American brokers just buy American grain, bag it in their countries and forward it to Russia.
Sometimes Putin cares more about the image than the reality, like the time he stopped overseas adoptions of Russian children. The poor orphans suffered and Americans went to other countries to adopt children.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Putin is being Putin. He doesn't like being told what to do, especially by a do nothing USA President. The more the Pres and the EU push the more he will push back. Bullies are like that.
Obama is out of his league and while he thinks the sanctions are doing what they are supposed to, he has underestimated his opponent.
Putin will be creative and find other means to get the products needed for his people, probably negotiating a good price. He also knows that EU needs gas and no doubt will use that in getting what he wants.
