[richardw]

On top of the earnings to Western arms companies, every billion that doesn't flow to Russia for arms sales is a double win for the US. It's hard to squeeze their economy when you're leaking money to them on arms.

Supporting Russia's arms industry can hurt you far more directly. Income flows to research, competing with your arms everywhere and endangering your own soldiers.

That doesn't mean you can't influence SA. You can limit (or offer) access to certain weapons systems, refuse access to some investments in the West, ask for a token sacrifice to appease the press, etc.