tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post1125528330135606335..comments2023-11-05T13:07:03.784+02:00Comments on foreign notes: How Putin became victim of Yulia Tymoshenko's political schemesScott W. Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04047386631227542689noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-73421658528113076932009-02-10T05:44:00.000+02:002009-02-10T05:44:00.000+02:00Spend money to send them to school, and this is th...Spend money to send them to school, and this is the result. Ignorance personified!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-49537072469586334842009-02-07T19:36:00.000+02:002009-02-07T19:36:00.000+02:00The recent crisis with the natural gas has shown o...The recent crisis with the natural gas has shown once more the tragic political weakness of the European Union to intervene in the international scene, on its own benefit and with autonomy of choices. It’s just not possible that Europe cannot see what has been self-evident ie the fact that Russia has every reason to want to continue selling smoothly natural gas in Europe (especially today, where the fall in the price of oil brings down quite seriously its state revenues). Ukraine also has every reason to want to use Europe as a “shield” and as a tool of blackmail in order on the one hand to avoid paying the gas that it needs (or even not the whole amount) since it is on the verge of an economic breakdown and on the other hand to serve the American intentions for geopolitical encirclement and economic isolation of Russia. The recent agreement between Putin – Timoshenko, for the recovery of natural gas flow towards the West, is of course a positive step but not quite steady. There is always the danger of being subverted and cancelled by the intervention of the President of Ukraine, Yushenko, who is the main representative of the American policy in Kiev. <BR/><BR/>Europe should cooperate with Russia and avert this process. Europe must take off the glasses of the “Cold War” era, it must become independent of the oppressive American shadow and see its relations with Russia in realistic terms; we are no longer enemies but partners. The strategic plans of Washington, at least with the Bush administration, are non-symmetric with the European Union’s interests: The United States want to “put their feet” in the Caucusus region and they are indifferent if the European households will be freezing. What has happened last summer in Caucasus with the war in South Ossetia, should not happen again. Europe, captive of its own prejudices of the past and of its transatlantic commitments, has not condemned the unprovoked assault of the Saakasvhili regime against peace keeping forces and civilians and has chosen for its own the role of Pilate. If you want to see what has happened last year in Caucasus, visit the site www.whitebook2008.com. It is really interesting.white book 2008https://www.blogger.com/profile/17106745006910302071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-54294753857169596272009-02-03T06:19:00.000+02:002009-02-03T06:19:00.000+02:00Yulia gave too much to the Russians because she is...Yulia gave too much to the Russians because she is more concerned with her political future and what Putin can do for her, than she is Ukraine or it's people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8086033.post-59967204645171802442009-01-31T18:41:00.000+02:002009-01-31T18:41:00.000+02:00Interesting article. No matter the background, the...Interesting article. No matter the background, the info I have read indicates that Yush was right, that this was not a good deal for Ukraine.<BR/>The Bad Aspects:<BR/>1. The will pay appx $340 for the first quarter, but Germany pays about $240. Why should Germany pay so much less? <BR/>2. If Ukraine does not use a sufficient amount of gas, they will have to pay triple charges.<BR/>3. If Ukraine has to absorb a price increase, why shouldn't the Russians with the transit fees?<BR/>4. Ukraine will get a major increase in the transit rates to European levels in 2010, but then that rate will be locked in until 2019. but the price of gas will not be locked.<BR/>The Good:<BR/>1. Removal of the intermediaries. This part is awesome! For some reason, Yush opposed this.<BR/>2. The price of gas will float according to the price of oil, so as oil goes up or down, gas will also go accordingly.<BR/><BR/>I am no longer a fan of Yushenko, but he was right with his disagreement with Yulia on this issue. Russia was losing $100 million a day with the pipeline shut down and with oil prices being so low, this was something they could not afford. Remember, 80% of Russia's gas to Europe goes thru Ukraine, and this is very profitable money for Russia. Personally, I think they could have gotten a much better deal.<BR/><BR/>I am tempted to believe Yulia gave too much to the Russians because she was more concerned with "showing up" Yushenko.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166566831823469722noreply@blogger.com