Putin Seen Punishing Own People Not Foes With Sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin chose a funny way to punish his American and European adversaries.

By imposing sanctions on imports of U.S. and European agricultural goods, as he did this week, Putin will make it harder for his own people to find and afford foreign-made meat, cheese and fruit. And a Russian economy that’s already near stall speed will probably slow further as the central bank comes under pressure to raise interest rates for the fourth time this year to battle an expected increase in inflation.