Ukraine and Russia reach gas 'consensus'

[Monk06]

11. The Ukraine, whoever is running things, have a history of stealing gas from Russia and selling it

it at subsidized prices in the domestic market. Tymoshenko and her family became wealthy in the wild west gas market in the '90s. IIRC she blocked an illegal supply agreement between Ukrainian oligarchs and their Russian cousins and was thrown in jail.

So much for the criminal element, the upshot is the Ukrainian government cannot be trusted to pay its gas bill to Russia so in steps the EU.

The Ukraine is reliant on Russia for gas. That doesn't make them beholden. They are beholden to the states that are keeping this corrupt regime in place which is the EU and the US not Russia.

Your reasoning is rather slippery, I suspect because you support the Ukraine against Russia.

I hold both sides in equal contempt and have no stake in who wins.

My objection is the behind the scenes efforts on the part of the EU and US through NATO, to put NATO forces on the Russian border which is needlessly provocative and will blow up in everyone's face.

The attempt by the US to neutralize Russia's nuclear capability is both pig headed and dangerous to stability in Europe.