Eliminating Russia’s access to SWIFT will punish Putin for his act of aggression and conquest of a peaceful country. The West must act immediately. Failure to take strong measures will endanger our future freedom and give implicit permission to dictators.

While this action will directly affect Europe and the United States, it is a consequence worth suffering for to stop provoking future wars revolving irredentism. It is not only Russia that is observing our next steps, but also China, a state that has interests in taking over Taiwan. I believe that if we do not show these authoritarian countries that we are willing to stand up to them, then war will be inevitable in the future. It is better to live through an economical and energy crisis now, than to suffer through war and the collapse of democracy and western institutions.