It is heartbreaking to see Ukrainians who just days ago were like us, going about their everyday lives, dropping their kids to school, going to work, shopping at the supermarket, are now having to fight for their country. President Putin has shown total disregard for international law and the sovereignty of Ukraine. This attack is a wholly unnecessary escalation that warrants a severe response from the international community. We are seeing that response from many: the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, Australia, Singapore, the EU, and others have all imposed strong sanctions restricting Russian banks from accessing their capital markets and services. Export bans have been put in place and the assets of Russian elites affiliated with the Kremlin have been frozen. Russian banks are being cut off from the SWIFT international payment system. The assets of its central bank are being frozen. The scope and severity of these sanctions is unprecedented. 