CONFLICT
Russian banks hit by crisisDUPLICATE
By Jordi Bou
April 28, 2014 - The U.S. has imposed sanctions on seven Russian people and 17 firms linked to President Putin’s "inner circle" over their role in the Ukraine crisis. The use of financial warfare as an alternative to military force has grown dramatically in the 21st century, with sanctions imposed in at least 20 countries since 2000. However, debate over what measures might keep Russia out of Ukraine shows how tricky they are to apply successfully.