Russia confronts uncertain path

The Boston Globe ^ | 4 Jan 15 | Michael Birnbaum

[elhombrelibre]

MOSCOW — A year ago, most Ukrainians didn’t want to join NATO. US tanks weren’t doing training exercises near the Russian border. And a dollar bought 33 rubles.

But after the most tumultuous stretch of President Vladimir Putin’s 15 years in power, Russia is facing a new reality.

Ukraine — the part not held by rebels — has turned firmly toward Europe. NATO troops are on alert in the Baltics, near the Russian frontier. And the ruble has lost nearly half its value against the dollar, wiping away years of gains for Russia’s middle class.

Putin has also won major victories, foremost among them the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, an achievement he said would be inscribed in the annals of Russian history alongside the exploits of Catherine the Great.

[Sherman Logan]

the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, an achievement he said would be inscribed in the annals of Russian history alongside the exploits of Catherine the Great.

Riigghhtt.

Cathy fought major wars to gain territory for Russia.

[elhombrelibre]

Yeah, and she was Prussian by birth.

[central_va]

Cathy had sex with her horses....

[Sherman Logan]

Not exactly. Her father was a general in the Prussian army, but he ruled the independent (sort of) principality of Anhalt.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

Vlady is a career KGB guy. He measures victories by how many people he could deceive and murder without putting up an honorable fight. In his mindset it’s the same as being a great general and winning a major war.

[bert]

Putin got Crimea in return for some economic discomfort

The Euroweenies don’t give a damn about Crimea and go along with Putin’s game of getting chased from the Ukraine in return for sanctions.

[elhombrelibre]

"Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst was the daughter of an obscure German prince, Christian August von Anhalt-Zerbst, but she was related through her mother to the dukes of Holstein. At age 14 she was chosen to be the wife of Karl Ulrich, duke of Holstein-Gottorp, grandson of Peter the Great and heir to the throne of Russia as the grand duke Peter. In 1744 Catherine arrived in Russia, assumed the title of Grand Duchess Catherine Alekseyevna, and married her young cousin the following year."

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99597/Catherine-II/1172/Origins-and-early-experience

[elhombrelibre]

Look at how much wealth the average Russian has lost to his savings, and I don’t see how you can consider this to be mere “economic discomfort.”

[bert]

The time interval is too short to make such an observation now. Five years must pass before the true measure can be determined

The oil price was going to go down anyway and has nothing to do with Crimea. The oil price is the primary factor in the Ruble decline

[elhombrelibre]

Saudi Arabia and OPEC’s major oil producers are keeping production high for three reasons. One of them does have to do with their desire to punish Putin. The other two reasons are to end Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon and its goal to dominate its Sunni neighbors. The last one is to end shale production in the USA and Canada.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks elhombrelibre.

A year ago, most Ukrainians didn't want to join NATO. US tanks weren't doing training exercises near the Russian border. And a dollar bought 33 rubles... Ukraine -- the part not held by rebels -- has turned firmly toward Europe. NATO troops are on alert in the Baltics, near the Russian frontier. And the ruble has lost nearly half its value against the dollar, wiping away years of gains for Russia's middle class.