Ever hear of the broken window policy?
When a broke window needs to be repaired, there are always plenty of people and companies ready to jump in to repair the damage, with the hope of getting rewarded for the repairs.
After WW2, the U.S.. and many other countries were ready to jump in and do the repairs. Ukraine is no different, and there are plenty of governments and organizations ready and willing to jump in and do the repairs. Billions of dollars, if not trillions to be made in Ukraine, once the battles are over. Russia too will be needing to repair it’s military infrastructure, and even the U.S. and other NATO nations will jump at the opportunity.
Do, don’t just think about the devastation; think about the post-war reparations. Reparations may not bring back dead people, but the survivors will carry on, with the help of the rest of the world. In fact, even as the war carries on, and destruction happens. repairs are happening,with help from within and outside Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine may be losing a lot of people and infrastructure, but so is Russia, and Russia is a poor country and can’t continue the fighting for too long.
After WW2, the U.S.. and many other countries were ready to jump in and do the repairs. Ukraine is no different, and there are plenty of governments and organizations ready and willing to jump in and do the repairs. Billions of dollars, if not trillions to be made in Ukraine, once the battles are over.
You overlook that what you refer to will be the former Ukraine. Its former industrial zone has been annexed by Russia. The West has sanctioned itself into recession. Ukraine is bankrupt and West is experiencing financial difficulties. Rounded off, our debt is $35 Trillion.
Ukraine has no economy to speak of. They will become a charity case if they do not soon come to their senses. If there remains a Ukraine, it may not even be able to provide sustenance for its own citizens. The offer of a neighbor to provide food and shelter upon annexation might sound good to those who have no food, shelter or electric, etc. Much of the land previously belonged to several neighbors. As I mentioned before, a Ukrainian charm offensive is not promising. They have pissed off all their neighbors in one way or another. Their preferred method of diplomacy is to threaten to blow up the ZNPP if they do not get what they want.
There will be no billlions and trillions to be made in Ukraine. Ukraine can't pay anybody anything. Americans are weary of pouring tax dollars into that money pit. They seem a most ungrateful group of beggars. He can no longer get an invite to address anything on a big stage. Ukraine fatigue has set in and the little emperor should change his wardrobe back to a civilian; he is not fooling anybody strutting about as a perfumed prince. The Ukraine administration rivals Baghdad Bob for credibility.
When this is over, the Ukrainian people may generate sympathy. This Ukrainian government does not and will not.
Meanwhile, Ukraine may be losing a lot of people and infrastructure, but so is Russia, and Russia is a poor country and can’t continue the fighting for too long.
Russia is doing just fine.
In Latest Humiliation For Biden Admin, Russian Oil Is Trading Above The G7 Price Cap Everywhereby Tyler Durden
Thursday, Apr 11, 2024 - 09:30 PMBack in late 2022, when "Western democracies" bombastically unveiled theatrical sanctions against Putin, capping the price at which imports of Russian oil were permitted to no higher than $60, we said that this was one of the biggest farces in modern history, not only because it was an optical play that was made entirely for public consumption (as nobody in the west actually wanted to curtail Russian oil exports as the outcome would be a devastating surge of inflation as Biden now realizes), but also because there was no enforcement mechanism to cap the price at $60 and no more.
We were right, again, and today Bloomberg reports that "Russian oil is trading far in excess of a Group of Seven price cap that’s supposed to deprive Moscow of revenue for its war in Ukraine, suggesting significant non-compliance with the measure", which anyone with half a working brain would have expected to happen, which of course excludes virtually all "democratic" bureaucrats who implemented this idiotic sanction (which only ended up making the Vitol oil traders billionaires).
According to data from Argus Media, whose price assessments are followed by some G-7 nations involved in the cap, Russian flagship Urals grade oil is now selling for $75 a barrel at the point it leaves ports in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea. A Treasury official told Bloomberg that US officials are tracking the price increase, which they attribute to broader geopolitical dynamics, as the alternative - admitting they are idiots, would be a bit too introspective.
As a reminder, the Russian embaro cap requires that any western company involved in transporting Russian oil receives a so-called attestation, a document vouching that the cargo cost $60-a barrel or less. If it doesn’t, they’re not allowed to provide their services. The fact that Argus’s prices are so far above that level creates what Bloomberg called a "dissonance", but what we would call, a giant slap on the face of the Biden administration which nobody takes seriously any more.
While Urals has been above $60 almost all year, this month’s surge to well above $70 will stretch the credibility of those attestations for traders wanting to keep using western services. Not like anyone actually thought those attestations had any credibility to begin with since the governments enforcing them were so clearly interested in having everyone ignore them.
Bloomberg data showed that in March, 23% of the nation’s crude oil shipments had insurance against spills and collisions provided by members of the International Group of P&I Clubs. That means traders would have vouched that the cargoes cost well below where Argus assessed the Urals price to be, which was clearly not the case, and means that at least a quarter of Russian oil shippers are fabricating data. A smaller proportion moved on Greek tankers, all of which had cover from IG clubs, also requiring attestation.
Hilariously, the idiots in the Biden admin told Bloomberg that the cap is still having its intended effect, reducing the amount of money the Kremlin receives from oil sales by forcing the commodity to either be sold under the cap via western services, or through Russia’s shadow fleet. Which, of course, is absolutely not the case and Putin is currently rolling in the cash from selling oil to the same European nations that are supplying Ukraine with their most modern weapons which Putin then handily blows up and reverse engineers. The US plans to continue the enforcement of the cap by sanctioning vessels operating in the shadow fleet, but will not do so in response to any specific market moves, the official said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, and for the reason that it would be extremely embarrassing if his name were to become public.
A European Commission spokesperson said the bloc is aware of the risk of the price cap being dodged, and is committed to steps that deprive Russia of revenue while simultaneously “supporting global energy market stability.” It’s also constantly reviewing existing measures to enforce the cap and prevent its violation or circumvention, the spokesperson said, adding that such measures require unanimity among member states. In other words, Europe knew from day one that the Russian oil embargo was not going to work, and now, a year and a half later, is blame the lack of "unity" for this farce.
The bloc’s most recent sanctions package was aimed at tighten the cap’s enforcement, the spokesperson said; clearly the package did not achieve the "desired outcome."
Of course, it's not just Russia that is rolling in dough: by the time Urals cargoes get to India, the grade is trading at $88 a barrel — just $3.80 below than the global benchmark for physical cargoes, Dated Brent, Argus data show. When the nation’s ESPO crude leaves the port of Kozmino in eastern Russia, it is at $84 a barrel. It hasn’t been close to the price cap for about a year.
Bloomberg concludes that since last October, "the US Treasury has shown it’s prepared to punish companies for breaches of the price cap that happened in the past" however, given its desire to avoid any actions that disrupt the flow of crude — and risk higher prices — the rally in headline Brent futures to around $90 a barrel may temper any push to do so at this time.
I wonder who Europe believes blew up the pipeline.