Have to wonder what the end goal is here. Putin is human, but he’s also pretty calculating in his actions.

People have mentioned before China’s competing system to SWIFT and this move potentially being to their benefit. You also have the EU and US spinning up their wheels against a boogeyman, which in some ways, has the effect of strengthening and/or testing their relationships.

In other ways, it forces the West into really tough and expensive policy positions, with plenty of opportunity to damage relationships as well.

Perhaps it really is just as simple as they wanted to prevent Ukraine from joining the EU/NATO. Maybe it’s a mixture of all the above.

Blinken mentioned it - and I agree - that I don’t see whatever plan that’s currently underway as intentioned to stop at Ukraine.