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No way. The West cannot be relied upon for any agreement - ever. Gentlemen are keeping their word - when it's profitable. When suddenly it's not they take it back immediately. Any agreement with the West not worth the paper it is printed on. Period. And especially this applies to UK - the worst country in history of a mankind. The only good thing is that current UK elites degraded basically to the bottom, so UK became pretty much toothless.
So the less Russia deals with UK and West in general, the better for Russia.
So why NS 2 then, ( not to mention Putin's previous drive ( for many years actually,)) this failed attempt to integrate with the West?
Because Putin is a dictator and anybody that gets in his way gets poisoned! He is NOT a man I would trust as far as I could throw him! Would you be happy if the EU controlled Russia's electricity supply?
16 deg C is warm even for London, I think it may have been the warmest New Year on record (last year it was 11 deg C, the year before 12 deg C) but don't forget because of the Gulf Stream the UK doesn't get particularly 'cold' in the Winter, freezing temperatures are rare in London and Christmas time is often 'fairly' mild - certainly compared to everywhere else on the planet this far north anyway. The Winter temperature in London is on average around 9 degrees C but it can get colder and milder. Mind you that doesn't mean to say that I wouldn't want it even warmer! I would love to live in a climate like California's to be honest.
Funny enough Russia (and Iran) are blocking the trans Caspian pipeline over "environmental" concerns, but Russia doesn't have such concerns for the Nord stream pipelines lol. I'm sure it has nothing to do with Turkmenistan bypassing Russia, similar to how Ukraine and Poland are definitely not angry that Russia is bypassing them lol. It's all in the name of environmentalism and freedom
P.S. When I mentioned Gulf countries, I was talking about the oil dependency on them ( not gas) of course.
I'm checking on their "democracy index" now...
So why specifically Russia is so unpalatable to the West?
I could understand if it were the ideological issue ( as in case with Socialism of the USSR,) but capitalist Russia, that's all about money and profits?
What gives?
P.S. When I mentioned Gulf countries, I was talking about the oil dependency on them ( not gas) of course.
I'm checking on their "democracy index" now...
So why specifically Russia is so unpalatable to the West?
I could understand if it were the ideological issue ( as in case with Socialism of the USSR,) but capitalist Russia, that's all about money and profits? What gives?
I think you are well aware of why, Russia is one of a handful of countries that can forge an independent foreign policy which makes them "unpredictable" and that frightens the west.
BTW Qatar is a gulf state and is the worlds largest producer of LNG (although they seem to be more focused on Asian markets) and lest you forget why the whole war in Syria started over the Qatar-Turkey pipeline to cut into the European market. Then of course there are the pipelines that Iran proposed that are being blocked by the west. Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline and Persian Pipeline via Turkey.
honestly though more competition is better and these pipelines should probably be built, it doesn't make much sense for Europe to get half their gas from Russia, I think 33% - 24% would be a healthier number. (likewise Russia shouldn't rely on Europe with buying their gas and should diversify to other countries, which they are working on) It's never a good idea to rely heavily on a single supplier/buyer, even if you are best friends with them.
However I understand why the west is so apprehensive towards Iran, which is mainly due to Iran's anti Israel stance and support for Hamas. (well and also because Iran kicked BP out among other things)
"Anybody" who?
I've seen two cases so far, and both of these people were former KGB(FSB?) agents from what I remember, not just "anybody."
Russians have tendency to be ruthless, that's part of the culture ( or rather dark side of it,) not just "Putin."
As far as Navalny goes - not sure what exactly happened to him, honestly.
He is not the squeaky clean either if you ask me.
But BUSINESS-WISE he was dutifully fulfilling his obligations. He showed himself to be reliable, did he not? He is all about money, so that's the question I have; if the West is all about money, ( and so is Putin,) what seems to be a problem?
Who, me?
Yes, if Russia would be controlling the gas supply to EU, it would be only natural ( in my eyes) that EU would control something of value in Russia as well. ( Electricity supply, yes, why not?)
This would be only logical.
After all one former German chancellor sits on board of directors in Russian Gasprom, and they recently invited former French vice-president ( Fillon?) to sit on the board of directors of yet another Russian state oil company.
Americans were not too hesitant to move their industrial base to China with the Communist Party in charge; they have no particular concerns of being gas-dependent on all those Arab Gulf states, even when the Saudis chopped one the journalists to pieces.
As long as the Saudis are holding their end of the business deals.
So why so much fuss about Russia?
Putin and Co showed themselves as reliable business partners, since they are all about money, first and utmost.
Oh, Gulf Stream, right.
But even with that, I didn't expect to hear that on average the New Year time is like around + 9 Celcius in London.
That's a discovery for me.
I am in the Northern part of the US, so it was cold.
Somewhere between -2 and -12 Celcius. It keeps on fluctuating God knows why, yet that's how it is around here.
But definitely not as cold as in Moscow at least, lol.
I'm sorry but Putin is a dictator, I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him, I'm surprised you didn't know about the Gulf Stream, it stops England from freezing in the winter, its most felt in the SW of England where you can grow gardens like these:-
So why NS 2 then, ( not to mention Putin's previous drive ( for many years actually,)) this failed attempt to integrate with the West?
(shrug) Every human makes mistakes, and Putin is just another human.
Besides, at the time when NS2 was conceived Russians kind of didn't expect that West will stop to even pretend being reasonable and just.
From all the rumors that I heard Russia officials are finally fed up (too late for my taste, but better later than never). NS2 was the last project with Europe. From now on, East and Africa is a priority; West can rot on it's own.
“Life expectancy in Russia has regressed by a decade,†said Vera Karpova, a demographer at Moscow State University who estimates Covid-19 has cut more than three years off the average lifespan to under 70. “The last time life expectancy was 70 was in 2012.â€
Less than 70 is literally Sub-Saharan Africa level. Few countries are more tragicomic than Russia tbh. China is a c*nt too but at least it has made attempts to improve life in China. Russia on the other hand truly only cares about its borders.
Less than 70 is literally Sub-Saharan Africa level. Few countries are more tragicomic than Russia tbh. China is a c*nt too but at least it has made attempts to improve life in China. Russia on the other hand truly only cares about its borders.
Of course, there are problems with the birth rate and so on.Our friendship with the United States and the West as a whole has cost us extremely dearly.
And if you read the Western press, of course! Russia is the most terrible place in the world, the people are groaning under the heel of a tyrant! And in no other way))
Just look at this picture! How these people live ! It 's just awful !
Poor poor Russians. It is high time for them to throw off the tyrant and join the ranks of the friendly West, at any cost!
Damn it! Is this a photo from the USA? Well, you don't understand, that's another matter! It's just that these people love outdoor life! And the authorities do not prevent this! This is not a terrible Russia for you! This is freedom!
Of course, there are problems with the birth rate and so on.Our friendship with the United States and the West as a whole has cost us extremely dearly.
And if you read the Western press, of course! Russia is the most terrible place in the world, the people are groaning under the heel of a tyrant! And in no other way))
Just look at this picture! How these people live ! It 's just awful !
Poor poor Russians. It is high time for them to throw off the tyrant and join the ranks of the friendly West, at any cost!
Damn it! Is this a photo from the USA? Well, you don't understand, that's another matter! It's just that these people love outdoor life! And the authorities do not prevent this! This is not a terrible Russia for you! This is freedom!
You can find a million unflattering pictures about America, it would not change the fact that Russia is doing really poorly in almost every single aspect other than bullying its neighbours. A massive dip of life expectancy like that only happens in war times. I know there is a pandemic going on, but other countries are not nearly as ****ed as Russia is.
You can find a million unflattering pictures about America, it would not change the fact that Russia is doing really poorly in almost every single aspect other than bullying its neighbours. A massive dip of life expectancy like that only happens in war times. I know there is a pandemic going on, but other countries are not nearly as ****ed as Russia is.
Of course, I agree with you. For so many years in a row not to succumb to a bloody provocation.This is a form of mockery, And non-provision of resources on a gratuitous basis, also a mockery.
Life expectancy..Sorry, but who expected this? The Western press? This is an argument.
Of course, not as exhausted as Russia. Do you see publications about this in the Western press? No. And if there are no publications, then everything is fine!
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