Quote Originally Posted by bytemare View Post
Ukraine could have no gas as their main supply is about to be cut off. Gas is what most of the population uses for heating, cooking, and hot water.
The expression "Don't bite the hand that feeds you" comes to mind.

Take one guess why the the USA is so cosy with Saudi Arabia, a country that stands for everything the US normally can't tolerate; i.e. dictatorship, oppression of women, lack of "freedom", homophobia, non-Christian values --- just as a starting point. They need the oil imports, at prices they can afford. So in light of that they brush their normal reservations under the carpet. And Russia is considerably less unpleasant than Saudi from pretty much any objective Western observer's perspective. They even share common culture and language with Ukraine. It really should not be very hard for Ukraine to ensure that it doesn't majorly upset Russia. But instead, Ukraine's done just about everything it can, to annoy Russia, going completely against their own best interests. Who are they going to buy cheap gas from then. Brussels, lol?

For the exact same reason that the USA cozies up with Saudi, the Ukraine would be wise to make sure it has a working relationship with Ukraine. Through the foreign backed coup d'etat and subsequent events, they have jeopordized this, and now it looks like they'll be paying the price.

Plus - it's not like Russia is refusing to provide gas.
Unless I am mistaken, Russia asks nothing else than that Ukraine pays the same price for gas as the rest of the EU, and that (due to not having paid discounted fees on time) now pays for usage in advance. Completely acceptable practice within business. It's anyone's prerogative to decide who they want to give discounts to, or ask payment in advance from untrusted partners. Basically in this respect "they made their bed and now they have to lay in it" to use another common expression.

The US is seriously talking about building an underwater gas pipeline to Europe.

I personally wish the natural gas sources in Europe were a bit more evenly distributed, but at the end of the day, that's where it's at. Russia may have gas, but it has some other challenges and problems that the rest of Europe doesn't have.

By the way, does anyone know why gas is so expensive nowadays?
I don't know where my gas comes from, but I pay a small fortune for it. It's totally ridiculous. When I was at university the gas bill was nothing. It might as well have been free. Literally, a month's supply cost about the same as a dinner out. Why is it so expensive now? What's changed?

Quote Originally Posted by UhOhXplode View Post
Those sanctions are a brilliant move. With NASA falling apart, it will give Russia an impressive edge on the space industry.

In other news, is everyone aware that the US Vice President's son has been appointed to the board of directors of one of Ukraine's largest gas conglomerates, Burisma Holdings. While Ukrainians are dying, Hunter Biden has a huge smile on his face ($$$$$$$).
Hunter Biden, Joe's Son, Joins Ukraine Gas Company - Business Insider
What irony. And how ridiculous. What on earth qualifies some American punk who doesn't even speak the local language, be on the board of this company?

What's it going to take for Ukrainians to see that the US is no better than Russia, probably worse?

Quote Originally Posted by Joe Biden
As a new member of the Board, I believe that my assistance in consulting the Company on matters of transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities will contribute to the economy and benefit the people of Ukraine," Hunter Biden said in the statement.
Translation: I have no relevant skills whatsoever, but I am good at bullshïtting. You should be honoured to pay me 1mil USD per year for my services.