“Russia can choke Ukraine to death whenever it feels like it. Put gas at market rates for one.”
One would think that the the organ who feeds the body controls it, but when the colon decides to block up and stop working, it controls the body.
Russia relies on the Ukraine to allow their oil and gas to go through the Ukraine pipelines to Europe. If they are blocked, Russia can’t sell oil & gas as easily.
>>Russia relies on the Ukraine to allow their oil and gas to go through the Ukraine pipelines to Europe. If they are blocked, Russia can’t sell oil & gas as easily.<<
That is why Russians has built a North Stream pipeline, presided by former Chancellor Schroeder, to pump directly into Germany and Italy bypassing unstable Eastern Europe.