[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

removing swift will cripple russia, but that will be a last resort sanction because it has the potential to escalate the conflict out of control

Does make you wonder how long all of this has been rumbling and how many recent global events are connected, though.

The reason they won't impose sanctions on SWIFT are that Russian oil and gas are critical to the economic function of Europe. However, as pointed out the other day, the UK itself is far less reliant on Russian natural resources than other European nations.

And "conveniently" ... the UK recently left the EU, putting up a massive wall of economic protection between ourselves and the EU We would obviously still be hugely affected, but FAR less than if we were still one of the EU lynch pins.