Posted on 05/02/2022 9:32:34 AM PDT by marshmallow
In an extensive interview with an Italian TV network, the foreign minister discussed a whole range of problems in relations between Moscow and the collective West. In particular, comprehensive sanctions against Russian business and the oil and gas sector, that arose after the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday that over $300 billion was stolen from Russia, the majority of which was payments for oil and gas supplies, because energy giant Gazprom had to store money in Western bank accounts.
"They wanted to ‘punish’ Russia, so they stole it," Lavrov told the Italian Mediaset broadcaster, explaining that "money was stolen from us (over $300 billion)... most of the amount was received for oil and gas supplies."
Lavrov noted that "now we are offered to continue trading as before, and the money will remain with them."
"When they want, they will pocket them again. That's the reason," he added, noting that in the West, "no one talks about this."
Asked about why Russia is halting gas deliveries, which has caused concerns in Italy, Lavrov said that the West could take money away from Russia at any time in the future if the situation were to remain unchanged.
"...’Gazprom’ was forced to keep the money on its accounts in Western banks (according to your rules)," Lavrov said, adding that "now we proposed that the deliveries be considered paid for not when Gazprombank gets the euros or dollars, but when they are converted into rubles, which can no longer be stolen."
The foreign minister noted that "nothing changes for buyers," as they still pay the amounts for the energy specified in the contract in euros and dollars, and the conversion will be carried out after that.
Notably, Lavrov expressed his surprise at the......
(Excerpt) Read more at sputniknews.com ...
Yep, Russian Ruble 71 to the Dollar right now, best it’s been since June 11, 2020
“All Russia is doing is following the direction laid out by our government by staying within our borders: Monroe Doctrine, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya....”
No, Russia didn’t follow our direction, it simply followed its “sense of destiny” as it had done since before the United States was ever founded (read up on the history of eastern Europe in general and Russia in particular). What Russia is doing today in its invasion of Ukraine is simply what Russia has done for hundreds of years.
“We only intervened when the Serbs resorted to rapine and mass murder....”
Serbia was an independent sovereign nation. We attacked a sovereign nation and no amount of rhetoric will change that fact. Just like we attacked the sovereign nations of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. No different than Russia has done.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!
Both sides fought strenuous proxy wars during the Cold War. Neither side annexed any territory until Putin.
South Vietnam was a "sovereign", too, by the way.
All the Eastern Europeans must be punished like the dogs that they are.
And they are eager to get us into a nucular war
Fallacy by over generalization. No one is surprised that wars kill people. Tell me how US forces killed 6 million.
After all, it won't be THEM dying.
I see that you're playing "The Numbers Quibble" card.
Whatever makes you feel better.
pierre: "It was only 5,999,999 - not 6 million, so you're WRONG!!"
Not numbers: agency— Who actually killed the people you claim were killed?
The "Numbers Quibble" card didn't work, so now it's time to play the "Quibble About Who Killed Who" card.
Throw in a soupçon of doubt with the word "claim".
You are just refusing to answer the question.
It is not surprising the accounts were seized.
It would not be surprising to see US/British/German/Polish patent rights for Russia sold off in the future with IOUs payable to the prior patent holders from the seized funds.
So, you would take Russia over the US. Got it. Nice to know.
Fortunately the US doesn’t keep their ministers for 20 years.
Thievery is a thing among governments. During the Spanish Civil War the gold reserves of the Republic were sent to Moscow for safe keeping never to be returned. Equivalent of about $8 billion worth today.
You are just refusing to acknowledge the blood on the hands of your neocon vampires.
Roger Zelazny, Creatures of Light and Darkness
Treaty of Paris (1763):
Article “VII. In order to reestablish peace on solid and durable foundations, and to remove for ever all subject of dispute with regard to the limits of the British and French territories on the continent of America; it is agreed, that, for the future, the confines between the dominions of his Britannick Majesty and those of his Most Christian Majesty, in that part of the world, shall be fixed irrevocably by a line drawn along the middle of the River Mississippi, from its source to the river Iberville, and from thence, by a line drawn along the middle of this river, and the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain to the sea; and for this purpose, the Most Christian King cedes in full right, and guaranties to his Britannick Majesty the river and port of the Mobile, and every thing which he possesses, or ought to possess, on the left side of the river Mississippi, except the town of New Orleans and the island in which it is situated, which shall remain to France, provided that the navigation of the river Mississippi shall be equally free, as well to the subjects of Great Britain as to those of France, in its whole breadth and length, from its source to the sea, and expressly that part which is between the said island of New Orleans and the right bank of that river, as well as the passage both in and out of its mouth: It is farther stipulated, that the vessels belonging to the subjects of either nation shall not be stopped, visited, or subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever. The stipulations inserted in the IVth article, in favour of the inhabitants of Canada shall also take place with regard to the inhabitants of the countries ceded by this article.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1763)
“In the summer of 1780, 5,500 French troops, with Comte de Rochambeau at the helm, landed in Newport, Rhode Island to aid the Americans.”
“By mid-September 1781, Washington and Rochambeau arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia, 13 miles from the tobacco port of Yorktown”
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown
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