This Week In The Economy: Economic Fears & Europe’s Energy Weak Spot Impede More Aggressive Sanctions On Russia

Welcome to a regular snapshot-review of U.S. and international economic news that aims to 1) provide a window into the challenges and decisions facing businesses today, 2) determine the direction of economic policy — such as the speed at which central banks decide to raise interest rates, and 3) assess what the impact will be for consumers.

Economic Priorities Outweigh Punishing Russia For Ukraine Invasion

This week we are going to forgo the usual recap of key economic data and central bank news to focus on the war in Eastern Europe, as Russia’s long-predicted invasion of Ukraine continues.

As missiles bombard Ukrainian cities — indiscriminately hitting civilian and military targets — and the Russian army marches ominously towards the capital Kyiv, the West’s response to Vladimir Putin’s manufactured war remains tepid at best and, honestly, self-serving.

What Sanctions Have Been Imposed