Putin needs dollars. This makes no sense.
Russkie strategic actions don't make sense to civilized people. Never have. Whatever the ravenous bear is up to, it is not good.
Putin doesn’t need dollars.
He needs Yuan, and he’s signed a huge gas contract with the Chinese to get them.
As I understand it Russia doesn’t have enough capacity to supply both Europe and the new Chinese contract anyway. If true, this would mean that Putin *had* to cut back exports to Europe.
Some of the putinistas don’t care if it makes sense as long as the bully and president for life Putin can appear STRONG.