John Day post=55 wrote: Aloha Y’all,
Russia blames Ukraine, and Ukraine blames Russia for gas shortages to Austria and Italy over aged pipeline in the bitterest part of Winter, when all parties are using more (“fungible”) natural gas, and nobody wants to be blamed…
I don’t think Putin has anybody over a barrel. It’s just how things go.
Russian strategic interest is in building a better relationship with neighbors (Europe and China). Europe may have a stressed relationship with “Anglo-American banking” very soon, and Russia will serve strategic intersts best by being a friend through that harsh time.
Putin is no dope. This is a time to feed Europe more rope, not jerk it back hard.