Putin is trying to normalize economic relations with the EU. I believe Russia feels like they have been treated like a malicious threat, a necessary evil that E

Putin is trying to normalize economic relations with the EU. I believe Russia feels like they have been treated like a malicious threat, a necessary evil that EU has been ‘tolerating’ due to energy needs. This is Putin saying, ‘ok we’re so evil, let me show you evil’. They just want to be treated like a legitimate energy partner to Europe and not like a rascal that governments need to find some alternative solution for. The outcome they seek is to wipe the table clean of negative attitudes, scale back of all sanctions, and just general good-faith energy deals without being seen as the worst thing ever. Putin: You need energy, we have energy, we’ll sell it to you. Why are you trying to subvert a simple economic exchange by co-opting Ukraine into NATO and also back dealing alternative pipeline projects? What is so bad about this basic arrangement? You think we are some old Soviet Cold War threat? Ok, let me show you the old Cold War Soviet threat. How come you don’t come fight us? Because we are not the Soviet Union and you know that. That’s all it is. That’s why no one sensible can figure out the rational for any of this, because it really is a respect thing.