Posted on 12/18/2013 7:43:13 AM PST by Olog-hai
Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych has opted for a no-strings-attached Russian bailout instead of the EU alternative.
He made the agreement at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday (17 December).
Under the accord, Putin promised to use money from Russia’s National Welfare Fund to buy $15 billion of distressed Ukrainian bonds. He also promised to cut gas prices from $400 or so per thousand cubic meters to $269 until 2019, saving Ukraine up to $2 billion a year.
He described Ukraine as a “strategic partner and ally.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at euobserver.com ...
And what gives Ukraine the idea that there are “no strings attached”? Because the Russians said so?
“No strings attached” in the sense that it appears Putin will simply cut Yanukovych a check, whereas the EU wanted to place conditions on their payment.
Too bad we don’t have a real leader!
FREE FREE FREE money!!! If Ukraine will order in the next 5 minutes, Putin will double the free money, just pay separate shipping and handling! (strings attached?) How long before we see Russian troops again in Kiev?
This will not go down well with the protestors...
Its a good deal - the EU would have demanded austerity and imposed significant hardship on Ukraine as part of the price for Western loans.
And that would have several harmed Yanukovych’s supporters in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east. What would have been the political upside for him? Nothing and like any risk-averse politician, he wants to be re-elected in 2015.
Russia bailed out a friendly government in Ukraine and decided to make a life a lot easier for it. Its saved the country from economic collapse and stabilized the political situation until new presidential elections take place in 2015.
Ukraine can get a lot more from Russia than from the West, which is never going to bail the country out. The foolish “Euromaidan” movement in the Ukraine has just been saved from itself.
As soon as Putin can deliver them.
If you believe this is "no strings attached", I've got some swampland in Florida to sell you.
“All that’s left is our friendship.”
Russian investors buy up Ukraine and lock it in Russia’s orbit. Money speaks louder than hate or love.
Ukrainians understand the Russians aren’t coming with tanks, they’re coming with briefcases.
There’s more the one way to ensure such a critical country never leaves Moscow’s orbit. Putin checkmated the EU and Ukraine’s “Euromaidan” movement.
Now here is a man who knows how to play no holds barred political chess!
Maybe L’wow can secede and rejoin Poland.
It’s already been bought up by the oligarchs. Many of them want to keep things as is knowing many of their businesses can compete with those in other Western nations. They rely on being able to sell to Russia. To be fair some oligarchs would prefer the EU.
Ukraine represents the soft under belly of Russia plus they have an agreement that allows Russia to continue keeping a base for their Black Sea fleet.
The KGB always expects pay back. And who knows how much happened that wasn’t officially documented.
Well, obviously, there’s the “It’s a shame what happened to Georgia,” and “You guys doing ok with heat this Winter?”
Really, complaining about not joining the EU? The EU is a broke dick system. Just look at the countries that are belly up. Join them and you are no longer a sovereign nation. Pay more to the countries that are non productive, get to bring in non european people that have no care of assimilating into that countries rules and life style, like the good ole “muslims”. Also, why destroy your heritage and become part of a cess pool culture that is ruining Europe and the United States!!
Clearly, joining with the Sov...er, Russia is preferable. /s
That’s where I was headed. Sometimes I feel the need to trade my “Captain Obvious” costume for subtler attire.
"Maybe L’wow can secede and rejoin Poland."Maybe they would then have to consider restitution to the descendants of the pre-war Polish and Jewish inhabitants :) They'd hate the idea as much as they hate moskali.
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