A question of who loses more.

"Rather than a direct war, the list of sanctions imposed on Russia is going to work in favor of the US," wrote Profs Nilanjan Banik & Guido Cozzi. Countries like Finland, Sweden and Moldova will want to join the EU. Thus, "Without a shot being fired, the US action will ensure a geopolitical victory." Demand for US Treasuries will result in lower yields which will keep interest rates down. Maybe not. "The dollar index was back above 100 on Tuesday (today) morning, supported by high US yields ahead of inflation data that is expected to show US prices gained the most in 16 years, reinforcing expectations of aggressive Fed tightening policy," BS. "Global sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine have contributed to surging oil and gas prices -- at a time when US inflation was already at a forty year high," wrote Rachel Lawler. "According to our most recent PPIC survey, two-thirds of Californians report experiencing financial hardship due to recent price increases, with 35% saying they have faced serious hardship." "Oil prices rose 2% on Friday (8 April) but notched their second straight weekly decline after countries announced plans to release crude from their strategic stocks," Reuters. Gas prices at US pumps averaged over $4 per gallon yesterday, while the average price of diesel was over $5 per gallon, eia. "The Federal Reserve is expected to deliver back-to-back half-point interest rate hikes in May and June to tackle runaway inflation, according to economists polled by Reuters who also say the probability of a recession next year is 40%." "The monthly mortgage payment it takes to buy the typical home in the US is up by a staggering 55% compared with the start of last year," npr. Because of a rise in house prices with increasing interest rates. "The once seemingly ironclad West-centric world order is teetering -- upending many of the cosy Western assumptions about its hegemony over international relations," and "there's real concern among Western leaders over their failure to build a broader coalition against Russia -- and alarm over the anti-West sentiment across large swathes of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America," wrote Hasan Suroor. Because of repeated use of the dollar as a weapon, "Countries may explore new mechanisms to transact bypassing the US dollar," "But experts say it is unlikely the dollar's dominant role will be challenged for now," TOI. China has developed its own Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) and is developing its digital yuan, the e-CNY to bypass the dollar based Swift system, wrote Andy Mukherjee. The Chinese yuan cannot be trusted, so India should also develop its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and use it for trade with our neighbors, News18. In time, countries could trade in their digital currencies, bypassing the dollar. "Dethroning the dollar is easier said than done," because it still makes up 60% of foreign currency reserves of central banks, BQ. Maybe, but can the peoples of the US and Europe withstand rising prices and falling living standards if the war is prolonged? Sanctions will not be removed even if Russia stops its invasion, so it has nothing to gain. It should continue what it set out to do. See if the West has the stomach.