Ukraine Crisis Chokes East Europe Growth, World Bank Says

Economic growth in eastern Europe will slow “sharply” this year because of dwindling demand from Russia, which may face wider sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union if it fails to help end violence in Ukraine.

Expansion will slow to 1.7 percent this year in the post-communist east from 2.2 percent last year, the Washington-based lender said on its website. The forecast includes the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia, which are considered high income by the World Bank.