The Capitol building in Washington DC where the US Congress meets. File photoWASHINGTON, Jun 19The desire to punish Russia for a special operation in Ukraine carries certain economic costs for the United States, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in an interview with ABC television. «We are united with our allies in the desire to take the measures necessary to punish Russia for what it is doing in Ukraine, and it has side effects for us as well,» she admitted.The United States recognized the futility of sanctions against the Russian defense industryThe American administration is convinced that the Ukrainian crisis and anti-Russian sanctions are one of the main reasons for record-breaking inflation in the United States in 40 years. After the start of a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, Western countries increased sanctions pressure on Moscow. Restrictive measures mainly affected the banking sector and the sphere of high-tech products. Calls to abandon Russian energy sources have become louder. At the same time, the disruption of supply chains has led to a sharp increase in fuel, electricity and food prices in the United States itself. There, inflation in May accelerated to 8.6 percent, the highest since December 1981, and the cost of gasoline on June 10 rose above $5 per gallon for the first time in history. Amid falling ratings, President Joe Biden continues to blame Russia for what is happening. Thus, he stated that the States «have never seen anything like Putin's tax on food and gasoline at once.» Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Russian leader noted that such statements are intended for those «who cannot read and write.» He also noted that the actions of the United States itself led to the current jump in energy prices. 
«They are paying for the sanctions.» Inflation in the US and EU is on the rise
