Posted on 02/24/2022 2:53:44 PM PST by Albion Wilde
Russian President Vladimir Putin has spelled out a nationalist rationale for his country’s military incursion into two restive provinces in eastern Ukraine largely controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists, but it is primarily about protecting Moscow’s energy interests.
That was true in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and I was a Moscow correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, for which I wrote dozens of stories about the insurgency in Donetsk and Luhansk that Russia helped foment. And it remains true now.
To understand the Kremlin’s motivations in regard to its smaller, and relatively impoverished, neighbor, the key fact to know is that Russia supplies 40% of Europe’s heating-fuel supplies—namely, natural gas.
To get it there, Russia relies mostly on two aging pipeline networks, one of which runs through Belarus and the other through Ukraine. For this, Russia pays Ukraine around $2 billion a year in transit fees.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
One man’s opinion. Surely there are a few side benefits.
“Russia pays Ukraine around $2 billion a year in transit fees.”
They were saying 5 billion on the War Room.
Donbas is the world largest coal mining area.
That article makes more sense and gives more relevant background than any of the other works of hysteria I have seen.
We could have helped fight the corruption in Ukraine and made it a stronger independent country. Instead our politicians joined in the corruption. Clinton, Biden, Romney, Graham, and others all had their finger in the pie to the detriment of the people of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. May God have mercy on their souls.
Sorry, but saying you are part of the MSM does NOT burnish your credentials
I'm more likely to assume you are a propagandist and liar
Panama Papers play back into this as well?
McCain, Kinzinger, Egg McMuffin guy…
FACT CHECK: This statement is TRUE
“That article makes more sense and gives more relevant background than any of the other works of hysteria I have seen.”
Agree, and interesting what’s NOT said in the article, which is that Putin is a madman intent on reconstituting the Soviet Union. Once he gets what he wants in Ukraine (a leadership there that he can live with), he’ll be done with his ‘adventures’, at least until some other clown nearby tries to get cute.
Something I don’t mentioned much anymore…Russia’s financing/propaganda of western climate change movements.
The belief in global climate change and alternative energy continues to weaken countries and local communities.
An example…Texas ice storm.
As we as a society continue to believe the “consensus”, we continue to weaken ourselves.
Germany takes offline 3 nuke plants, resulted in more reliance in Russian energy…
The US of A was energy independent before Biden…the sanction carveouts/exceptions today? Crude purchases…
North America could have provided Europe’s energy, but some believed Russia and Chinese propaganda…as they lock up the minerals and rare earths needed to produce alternative energy.
or the Pentagon Wars?
You can also flip this exactly 180 Degrees. US deep state and NATO's color revolution and mucking around in corrupt Ukraine politics is "only about one thing" - limiting Russia's exports of its main commodity, oil and gas. Its pretty clear that's the case, given the pressure against Nordstream 2, which Russia built to get away from Ukraine.
This guy calls them a "petrostate." OK, maybe they are, but so is Saudi Arabia, Norway, Kuwait - do they not have a right to sell their oil and gas? Or is that how we intend to control them?
And keeps NATO off their border. Poland needs to watch out.
They had 28 years to find a Pinochet or a Franco to lead their nation. That never happened. Our politicians took advantage of them. But they are not 100% to blame.
I have wondered what Putin’s take in the Great Reset is. I think we are finding out.
My son says Putin wrote his dissertation on controlling energy. Says he has seen it 4 or 5 times.
I wonder how much Russia and China invest in the “diversity/LGBTQ” movements?
We know they invest greatly in progressive candidates and presidential family members
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Part of the equation is that Ukraine is the land of Corruption, and their Leaders embraced Corruption.
They cultivated relationships with other countries based on how much money was to be made.
Embracing Joe Biden, Alexandra Chalupa, and Alexander Vindman was a horrible decision based on greed with predictable results.
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