Posted on 10/30/2014 11:31:32 PM PDT by tcrlaf
Ukraine, Russia and the European Union signed a deal on Thursday that will see Moscow resume vital supplies of gas to its ex-Soviet neighbor over the winter in return for payments funded in part by Kiev's Western creditors.
After several failed rounds of talks in recent weeks as conflict rumbles on despite a ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, the accord also eases concerns that a new "gas war" could disrupt winter supplies if energy to EU states, notably through pipelines shut down across Ukraine since June.
With overnight temperatures already nudging below freezing in Ukraine, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso hailed an accord clinched in Brussels barely 24 hours before he and the rest of his team make way for a new EU executive.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Russia no longer has to subsidize Ukraine to the tune of Billions of dollaes a year, Russia gets paid in cash-up-front for it's gas, Russia keeps control of Crimea, primary influence over the Donbas region, and the US/EU taxpayer gets to subsidize Ukraine instead.
So, tell me how this IS NOT another win for that "CRAZY!!!" Putin?
Crazy
Putin knows how to play geopolitics better than any one.
And he secured Russia’s vital national interests without having to fire a shot.
From his point of view, that Europe is Ukraine’s guarantor for its gas debt is a huge win.
Above all, in whatever else goes forward, Russia will have to be taken into account.
So Russia invades the Ukraine and the EU rewards them truly messed up!
Realistically, with winter coming, neither Ukraine nor Europe could find an alternative to Russia.
Some facts are what they are. But they’re not worth going to war over - not Crimea and not the Donbass.
Didn't Ukraine and the US overplay their hand? Europe has other things to worry about. Their population is getting feisty about the Muslim invasion. Mideast and western African gas are threatened by enveloping chaos. Does Europe really want to be freezing if Ebola spreads there? What if Turkey gets crazy? I'd think they'd have to depend on Russia to keep their maniacs out of Eastern Europe. This comes just before the US election. Could Russia and Europe be sending a message?
The world is such a mess. I just hope this leads to a region where there's some stability.
All very true.
Everyone “knew” Putin was going to win. Just like with Georgia. And the next country he invades, unless we get another Reagan.
EU, Ukraine and US - yes. Obama is such an amateur! This is what years of experience in Military and KGB intelligence gets you over a community organizer. Obama has overreached in every foreign policy move he has made. I think he believed his own press!
I hope Ted Cruz runs for President he’ll stand up to the Russian Empire if elected.
Any coin has two sides, Putin has entitled Russia to support/rebuild Crimea and, most likely, LNR and DNR. With Crimea it's a challenging task, though solvable. Especially that's about tourism.
But, having paid for the Ukrainian gas supplies the EU will likely change its view on the SouthStream - a pipeline project wchich bypasses Ukraine.
Putin caves while not a single sanction against Russia has been lifted.
Such an embarrassing little bitch the Russians have...
Odd story: I had a few “military surplus” items for sale. Kevlar gear mostly. Each piece was bought by a Ukranian who was sending it over to the Ukraine to equip soldiers fighting the Russians.
"Putin caves while not a single sanction against Russia has been lifted."
Wait until mid January when he will find a reason to turn off the pipeline and ask for total lift of the sanctions.
Wait until mid January when he will find a reason to turn off the pipeline and ask for total lift of the sanctions.Sure, I'll wait. But not for you to admit you were wrong...
It’s an interesting argument the Russians have . . . “let us invade them or you pay for it.”
It’s Putin for the win!
BTTT
Europe and/or US will only continue to prop up one bad Government (Ukraine) while they/we indirectly fund another bad Government (Russia).
That is how it is if you do not have the balls to stand up against him. That is my diplomacy...
It’s the 1930’s all over again.
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