Experts described the scenario of "mutual destruction" of the economies of Russia and the EU

According to Austrian scientists, the most powerful constraint in the event of an escalation in Ukraine could be a ban on the import of Russian energy. But then there will be a "mutual destruction" of the economies,

A group of scientists from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies assessed possible scenarios for a Russian invasion of Ukraine and the potential consequences. In their materials, analysts also suggested how likely it would be for the economies of RUSSIA and the EU to undergo "mutually assured destruction."

Scientists have studied two scenarios - basic and unfavorable. In the first case, in their opinion, cyber attacks are possible, and the invasion may be limited to regions in the south-east of Ukraine. In this case, the West may introduce relatively mild sanctions against Russia , including restrictions on the banking sector, government debt in the secondary market, and will also provide even more assistance to Ukraine, the authors of the report believe.

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Analysts call the unfavorable scenario a full-scale invasion, the answer to which could be tough “nuclear” sanctions.

The most severe measure in this case could be blocking the import of Russian energy carriers, including a ban on the commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, scientists expect. “This would cause severe damage to the Russian economy, but would also lead to rapid inflation and recession in the global economy and especially in the EU. This is an economic version of mutually assured destruction and therefore unlikely,” they write.