Peskov spoke about a possible stopping gas supplies if Europe refuses to pay in rubles.

There are adverse effects to all sanctions but energy is a necessity. This democrat dream of renewables making the world turn is asinine. That said your article and the Russians in this one are correct. They are sanctioned to the extent they can’t use any funds other than the ruble. They’re not forcing the use of the ruble by free will.

however, I do agree with the sanctions. So this is a price we will have to bear unless they plan on living under Russias thumb. If they reverted back to appease their wallets this would send a signal of weakness to Russia. Literally points to a place easily exploitable. It would hurt them in the long run far worse than now to cave.

 

What does Russia's heel have to do with it? Russia did not impose sanctions against assets! What does it mean that you can unilaterally block Russia's accounts, and Russia should wipe these spits in its face? If you cannot guarantee the safety of private property and money in your banks, you will buy that currency in that bank where Russia will not be afraid that this money will simply be taken away. But if you do not want to buy rubles and pay with them, Russia will not supply goods without payment. What is difficult to understand about this?
If you are not satisfied with Russian gas - no problem, buy it elsewhere. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that gas accounts for only 12% of the export structure. The total volume, part of which goes to Asia.

 

America would love for Russia to cut Europe off. America can rush to the rescue and any lingering reason to go easy on Russia would vanish. Another great Russian 'victory'.

 

And where will you get so much gas?

 

'I' won't be getting anything from anyone. Europe will be able to get it from a wide variety of gas exporting states. The US & Canada produce almost twice as much as Russia combined. Then just work down the list of gas exporting nations. It won't be hard to find.

The infrastructure to offload the gas in Europe exists, though it needs to be upgraded. You would be surprised how quickly a highly motivated nation can achieve this. Europe has enough gas stored to last at least through the winter.

This is a threat that only works once. Either Russia does it or not, and once its done it those former customers are gone. Even if they eventually start buying again, it will only be until they can do without.

 

Or when its convenient to 'top up the tank' via the odd spot purchase. Russia will simply never be treated as a reliable supplier of critical inputs again for a generation or more. Oh the West might deign to buy the odd case of vodka but that's about it.

 

Under the table, of course...

 

Maybe on top. Vodka isn't exactly a 'critical input' (unless your making martinis). There's literally an ocean of other alcohols you can buy out there ti choose from. Even non-Russian Vodka's. Let Putin threaten the West with 'vodka sanctions' and see how far it gets him.

 

"Real" Russian vodka would become the new "real" Cuban cigar.

 

Russia will suffer more than Europe from this move. Europe can much more easily replace Russian energy inputs than Russia can replace income from Europe.

As you say, once you start turning off supply when it suits people will look elsewhere. There is plenty of gas & plenty of other ways to generate energy. This is either a hollow bluff or a desperate gamble. Russia might think that it can create some sort of crisis inside the EU, but I suspect most people will direct their anger at Russia.

 

Funnily enough it works the other way to. If major customers start throwing their (supposed) economic weight around in order to win concessions more often that not the immediate effects are the opposite of what they intended i.e. (1) a sudden spike in prices for the customers own populace due to shortages and (2) renewed impetus towards customer diversification on the part of the exporter. No guesses which two countries I am referring to here.

 

Maybe Russians have a hard time understanding English. I understand why Russia wants to use the ruble, that doesn’t mean I support that action. Your government is destroying lives in an unprovoked attack. Yes, yes I’m sure you’ll point to some American wrong to justify your wrong but I won’t support your wrong just because someone else has done it.

 

That is not how any Christian belief works. Even in the middle ages at the height of catholic silliness unsupported by actual textual dogma, you had to be on a declared crusade to merit that.

 

Africa homie.
Yall probably want to drop some money in Recon Africa.

 

“To be Russian is to suffer.”
“To be a bottle of vodka is to vanish”.
I don’t know who to feel most sorry for.

 

There are no independent media in principle. Any media has an owner whose interests this media pursues. If you didn't know that, then you're surprisingly naive.

 

It doesn't matter what it looks like. important fact

 

Ahahaha... You don't even know the fact that a coup d'etat took place in Ukraine in 2014, but you talk about legality.

 

You write nonsense. If Putin, as you say, is stupid, then why is the standard of living of Russians rising from year to year?
If he is stupid, then why the US, the EU can not oppose anything in the Russian economy under Putin?
Why can NATO, together with the United States, only scratch their heads sadly, but are afraid of a military clash with Russia?

 

Even if that is true, which I very much doubt, it's STILL none of Putin's business, and in no way justifies a military invasion. Ukraine is a sovereign country and are the only people on the planet who have any say about your allegation. Many times in history, coups have proven to be good things. Given the direction of their country with regards to their values, their views on freedom and democracy, and their adoption of western customs and values, that's a good thing. Clearly, they agree with me given how hard they are fighting to keep all of that, when they could have just rolled over and welcomed Putin's invaders as saviors.

I think Vlad actually expected that, but he was very wrong, and that miscalculation has cost Russia an estimated 7,000-15,000 lives and counting. I don't relish those deaths, in fact I feel sorry for most of those who have been killed, but their blood, and the blood of every dead Ukranian kid (and adults) is on your buddy's hands.

As for the Russian standard of living, assuming it was rising (which is contrary to what I've heard, but let's pretend you're right), that's over. Sanctions and companies pulling out don't have an immediate effect, but their entire economy is headed to the *******, and that, too, is on Putin's hands.

What Russia needs is a repeat of 1991, when the people took control because all people deserve to have a government that serves them, not that controls them with an iron fist, and who doesn't start unjust wars with their neighbors. I realize it's a laudable goal, and it's going to take literally centuries until everyone has what should be their birthright, but when it does happen, the world becomes a better place. Your friend thinks that's literally the worst thing to ever happen in human history, and though I want to see him dead, I would like him to live long enough to see the Russian people rise up again. Let THAT be his legacy.

But since he wants to be the Hitler of the 21st century, I wish him the same fate as the 20th century version.

 

What does the Catholic or Protestant faith have to do with Russians? Catholics, for example, actively burned people at the stake for the slightest suspicion of deviating from dogma. So what? What do these wild religious beliefs have to do with Russians?

 

1. You can easily check the fact of the coup d'état in Ukraine in 2014. Is not it?

2.

Tell this to the Vietnamese, Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians.....Afghans....etc.

 

I suppose I could. But I see no reason to because it doesn't change anything. It's an illegal and unjust war started by a baby-killing evil dictator whether that happened or not.

How many more times do I need to say that before it sinks in?

 

Orthodox is a form of Christianity, but then you knew that when you made the post. Try not to be so deliberately obtuse, it weakens any position you take.
You're citing going to heaven. If not Orthodox, which is the majority religion in Russia, what religion are you claiming says you go to heaven for fighting for glorious mother Russia? Eh comrade?

 

So best to live under Washington's thumb and suffer hardships and continuous wars to please the criminals in Washington, than under Russia's thumb - even though Russia believes in a multi polar world rather than a unipolar one? Interesting! Lot's of logic there.

Not that it matters, the different nations will switch either to rubles should Russia demand it, or start using their own currency in trade with Russia. Regardless, Washington with its actions has destroyed the dollar.

A little common sense here. How can any nation use the dollar as a reserve currency knowing that their money can be stolen whenever it suits Washington's fancy?