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Russia may or may not care for it's own wealth in the shale prospects, but it can't allow for Ukraine to have them. They've shown interest in being a western al
by dvsfish 5y ago
Russia may or may not care for it's own wealth in the shale prospects, but it can't allow for Ukraine to have them. They've shown interest in being a western aligned democracy, and having such resource exports would make Ukraine much more wealthy. A wealthy, friendly Ukraine as an energy provider is much more attractive to Europe than Russia. They would have a much easier time being admitted to the EU and NATO, and it would be a severe blow to Russian pride and potentially economy, and the strategic position provided by being an energy exporter.
- dimitrios1 5y agoYes, this is spot on. Russia has spent the last 10 years or so rebuilding pipeline infrastructure to avoid Ukrainian tariffs. Ukraine in response has begun to align itself with the West as it seeks to ramp up its own energy production, threatening the overwhelming majority of Russia's GDP. Sometimes these things really are simple. This isn't to excuse what Putin is doing, and he is performing some serious brainwashing on the Russian people. Let us hope that the Russian people wake up to the lies they've been fed and finally rid themselves of this man. The fact of the matter is, the majority of the Ukrainian and Russian people have much more in common than what separates them. My hope is His Holiness Kirill can also wake up from his slumber, set aside his notions that God cares about the restoration of the former glory of the Kievan Rus, and see what is going on around him, because he can act as a major unifying force if he chooses to do so.