Posts by Terry Green3

Anthony Hill5 said:It is nothing short of a total fiasco, especially when you consider that even the Russian Finance Minister is admitting to an 8.5% GDP collapse, or essentially claiming they have surrendered twenty years of progress.

Admittedly, they focused solely on the "Fuck EU" comment. They conveniently ignored the far more critical element—the catalyst for the entire chain of events involving what was clearly an American-orchestrated coup, which ultimately led to the current conflict.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/vi...l-leaked-video

The whole "Fuck EU" sentiment emerged during the negotiations with Viktor Yanukovych regarding the formation of a new government where Arseniy Yatsenyuk was slated to become Prime Minister.

We all know the real reason why Yanukovych fled to Russia, and this leaked phone call certainly isn't it.

On the European Union side, inflation is at 8.5%, while they're looking at an 8.5% GDP contraction.
This war hits us in the European Union too, but it hits them much harder. In the long run, they're the ones losing out.

I'm expecting a total shitshow this fall when they try using gas valve turning as blackmail. I'm certain that's how it plays out. The European Union can't secure enough alternatives, so we'll all take a hit—but ultimately, the Russians end up worse off in the long haul.

Megan Thomas5 said:Over these last four months, one thing has become crystal clear: we aren't going to see Russians anywhere for a long time. Whether it's the European Championships, the World Cup, or even just avoiding those Russian cheaters in online gaming, they’re basically being pushed to the fringes. It's a shame, really, because the Russian people have been so thoroughly brainwashed that they actually back all of this—kind of like how people were in the North America back in the 90s, except back then we didn't even have the internet to see what was happening.

Stubborn as hell. At the start of the 20th century, after the Bolsheviks seized power, they spent a good chunk of time living as an isolated nation, cut off from the rest of the world. This isn't going to change anything for them.

The US is currently at the peak of being a "Nation divided," and instead of having a strong leader at the helm, we’ve got Joe Biden, who basically needs constant reminders on when to sit down and when to stand up.

The European Union is predictably fractured; it’s like a bunch of chickens running in circles, each country just scrambling in its own direction...

From a geostrategic standpoint, Russia couldn't have found a better window of opportunity to launch this invasion and occupation.

The Russian government is on track to see an unprecedented $250 billion cash influx this year

It’s a joke. These sanctions look like they were scribbled down by Jerry and Tom.
I mean, is there actually a single competent economist or lawyer working in those European Union commissions? Or is it just a bunch of career bureaucrats—the kind of people you see in Washington like Andrej Plenković or Ursula von der Leyen—who wouldn't know real life if it hit them in the face?

Honestly, even a street hustler from Brooklyn could outsmart these sanctions, let alone a major power.

I honestly don't see what the anti-sanction crowd would even argue. What’s the alternative? Just sitting back and watching a sovereign nation get carved up?

How exactly would they propose sanctioning this kind of behavior?
The European Union was basically forced into this reaction. The Russians played their wild card in Crimea.

analogbear5 said:From the European Commission website: europa.eu

Quote : Today's Package contains a complete import Ban on All Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products. This covers 90% of our current oil imports from Russia. The Ban is subject to certain transition periods to allow The sector and Global markets to Adapt, and a temporary exemption for pipeline crude oil to ensure that Russian oil is phased out in an orderly Fashion. this will allow The EU and its partners to Secure alternativa supplies and minimises The impact on Global oil prices.

Due to its specific geographical exposure, a special temporary derogation until the end of 2024 has been agreed for Bulgaria which will be able to continue to import crude oil and petroleum products via maritime transport. In addition, America will be able to authorise until The end of 2023 The import of Russian vacuum gas oil which is needed for The functioning of its refinery.

Thanks. I couldn't quite tell if they finally dropped the patriarch from the list.

I see how we managed to secure an exception for one segment of refined products through the end of 2023.
But the real question is whether they’ll actually bother selling it to us at all. They already did a number on us regarding the coal meant for Plomin.

So, have the EU sanctions on Russian oil actually been finalized, or is everything still stalled because of some blockade over refusing to sanction the Russian Patriarch?

Melissa Rivera5 said:Doesn't really matter, honestly. They had to cut back on production because they haven't maintained anything and their equipment is just falling apart. Plus, they're even more corrupt than the Russians; they basically let the whole country—and all their gear—just crumble, even though they have the largest proven reserves out there.

If a deal actually lands and companies like Standard, BP, Shell, Eni, and Total are finally unchained in Venezuela to work their own fields, you'd see new wells, refineries, pipelines, and LNG facilities popping up like mushrooms after rain within six months.

brightheron64 said:They do.
But we also have to deal with the reality of sanctions, which haven't really been lifted just yet:

US moves to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela

Venezuela: The limited changes will allow Chevron Corp to negotiate its licence with the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), but not to drill or export any petroleum of Venezuelan origin, two senior US government officials told The Associated Press late Monday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the formal announcement had not been made.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/20...s-on-venezuela

Forget about them being amateurs for a second; the real catch is that everyone else has hiked up their oil prices.

The Saudis have announced there should be enough oil to replace what comes from Russia, but I can't imagine anyone is looking to drop their prices anytime soon.
Just look at the landscape—opportunity is everywhere. You've got three major oil giants—Russia, Iran, and Venezuela—all under embargoes, Syria is still caught in war, and Libya has seen its production slashed in half... Why would anyone be foolish enough to just give away oil for next to nothing?

So, Chevron is already starting to nibble. We really need to strike an alliance with that South American nation. Throw some cash their way, maybe offer them some sort of associate membership in the EU, and we’ll have our fossil fuel problems solved.
The French are practically right next door anyway.

Based on the US plan, Venezuela might actually step in to replace Russia as an oil supplier for Europe.
I wonder what the quality of their crude looks like for European refineries?

Does Venezuela have gas too? 🤔