3 ms·
Let’s say Putin succeeds in capturing and subduing some or all of Ukraine and integrating it into Russia. Who’s going to pay the reconstruction bill? They must
by jl6 5y ago
Let’s say Putin succeeds in capturing and subduing some or all of Ukraine and integrating it into Russia. Who’s going to pay the reconstruction bill? They must have caused a hundred billion dollars worth of damage already, with more to come. How is Russia going to afford to rebuild the smoking ruin they inherit?
- ncmncm 5y agoAs always, the conquered pay. Romans did not build roads, they made others build roads for them. Crusaders did not build castles, Palestinians and Turks were made to build castles for them.
- jl6 5y agoThat makes sense for manual labor where a soldier can stand over you and make you work, but rebuilding Ukraine will need technology - diggers, cranes, steel, concrete, cables, pipes, electronics, fuel… a soldier can’t just shoot those things into existence.
- ncmncm 5y agoThe Ukrainians will need places to live. Russians will not build those. Ukrainians might be constrained to buy reconstruction services from Russian oligarchs, and to go to work for them, at a (large) net loss. Conquerors find ways to extract value.