Yet another expert who talks as though Russia had no say in the matter. Russia wanted to diversify its exports so that Ukraine and Belarus wouldn't be able to

Yet another expert who talks as though Russia had no say in the matter. Russia wanted to diversify its exports so that Ukraine and Belarus wouldn't be able to shut down anything, and planned many new pipelines. At the time, Russia could export gas from those fields as long as it had the cooperation of either Belarus or Ukraine, and much of Europe needed Russian gas. After much negotiation and construction, we've arrived at a state where Russia needs the cooperation of either Belarus, Ukraine or Germany, and where Europe's need for the gas had perhaps even increased. I would have liked it better if Russia hadn't added any third country to the Belarus/Ukraine duo and Europe would not depend on that gas, but was that really achievable? Russia had a big budget and a clear goal, I find it difficult to believe that Russia would achieve nothing.