Previous day’s thread: https://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/4198861/posts
Summarizing this war:
A tragedy for Ukraine.
A disaster for RuZZia.
A strategic win for the USA.
“Why Internet Trolls Do What They Do and How to Spot Russian Fakes”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLtBzvw0—0
Oil Prices are down from their late Summer surge, and sanctions enforcement is back to choking Russian supply.
Russia’s most profitable hydrocarbon industries (natural gas and refined petroleum products) are just a shadow of their pre-war revenues (half of Russia’s 44 mega refineries have been idled), and Russia is reduced to selling low margin crude at a smuggler’s discount, with increased costs. When supply was tight and prices higher for a few months, sanctions enforcement was loose - but now the noose is tightening again:
UAE Enforces Stricter Rules on Russian Firms in Clamp Down on Sanctions Evasion
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/UAE-Enforces-Stricter-Rules-on-Russian-Firms-in-Clamp-Down-on-Sanctions-Evasion.html
“The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which had become an attractive destination for Russian business after the invasion of Ukraine, has increased checks and enforced stricter banking rules on Russian companies amid rising U.S. pressure on the UAE to help clamp down on sanctions evasion...
...The UAE is looking to come off the so-called ‘grey list’ for financial crimes of the Financial Act Task Force (FATF). Therefore, the Gulf state is unwilling to be linked with risks related to sanctions, including the Western sanctions on Russian businesses, money transfers, and the energy industry...
...The clampdown on Russian firms in the UAE comes as the West is considering toughening up the sanction enforcement on evaders of the price cap on Russian oil, almost none of which now trades below the ceiling of $60 per barrel.
Last month, the United States took a tougher stance on the sanctions against Russia and sanctioned two vessels for violating the price cap.
Just last week, the U.S. imposed sanctions on three maritime companies based in the UAE and three vessels owned by the companies for shipping Russian oil sold above the price cap.
This week, Reuters reported that three major Greek shipping firms had halted transport of Russian crude due to the heightened risk of facing U.S. sanctions.
Greek shippers Minerva Marine, TMS Tankers, and Thenamaris have stopped carrying Russian oil to customers in the Middle East, Asia, Turkey, Africa, and South America, Reuters reported, citing trade sources and shipping data. “