Look at the map.
Its why Ukraine had to be pried out of the Russian sphere of influence.
Competing pipelines from the West’s Sunni friends in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf have to pass through Syria. Its why “regime change” was needed there.
Yes, follow the money.
Pretty shrewd move by the Russkies.
1. Pries Turkey away from the Gulf States and Saudis in fomenting regime change in Syria. Turkey still gets gas and transit rights fees, only now it gets them from the Russians instead of the Saudis.
2. It defuses hostilities between Turkey and Russia.
3. Gives Russia a freer hand in blocking the Saudi pipelines through Syria.
4. Ties into what was intended to be the terminus of the Saudi pipeline that was to transit Syria and Turkey, so they can piggy-back on someone else’s infrastructure costs instead of bearing it all themselves.
5. Bypasses Ukraine to deliver Russian gas to Europe.
The Russians win all around here.