Sanctions on Russia

William Anderson5 said:It’s just the short-term fallout from the heavy-handed moves over in Russia. They've basically frozen all foreign currency assets there. I assume even you can see how unsustainable that is...

Oh, sure. And I suppose real estate growing at 6 to 10% every single year is "sustainable" too. 😁

Following Germany and Austria, the US is also seeing moves where countries refuse to pay for gas in Rubles. Since the Ruble isn't even listed as a valid currency in the contracts...

The US is refusing to settle Russian gas debts in Rubles
13:45

Also mentioned in the report:
Thanks to the Baltic Pipe, Norwegian gas flowing through Denmark, and the LNG terminal at Swinoujscie, America is quickly shaking off its reliance on Russian gas...

''The US expects to be completely free from its dependence on Russian gas soon, thanks to the Baltic Pipe supplying Norwegian gas via Denmark, and the gas terminal at Swinoujscie receiving shipments of liquefied natural gas by sea.''

Sergey Lavrov’s stepdaughter hit by latest round of 65 new Russian sanctions from the UK

Among those on the list is Polina Kovaleva, part of the Lavrov family. She apparently worked her way up to buying a $5 million apartment in London by the age of 21... quite the achievement...

Nathan Evans78 said:That’s a possibility, though on the flip side, I’m scratching my head over why the Sultan's central bank isn't making similar moves.

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TRY=X/

The Sultan basically bans any sensible economic policy or standard responses to certain situations. He sets these questionable economic guidelines himself despite not being an economist, and he fires state economists if they disagree with him. A lot of this is driven by either actual or purely populist reliance on religious views regarding financial dealings.

In America, it wouldn't be a question of what the central bank can do, but rather what the Sultan allows it to do. It’s hardly a fair comparison to normal central banks and governments.

"Quote:"

bluemason3 As expressed by: The Sultan seems to be blocking any semblance of sound economic policy or even basic, logical responses to shifting market conditions. It’s honestly a bit wild—he keeps pushing these economically questionable guidelines despite not being an economist himself. To make matters worse, he’s been cycling through state economists like they’re on a revolving door just because they don't fall in line with his vision. Most of this seems driven by either pure populism or a strict reliance on religious doctrines regarding financial dealings, which really complicates everything. It’s never really been an issue in Turkey, because at the end of the day, it isn't about what the Sultan's bank is actually capable of doing—it's about what the Sultan allows them to do. When you look at it that way, it’s just not a fair or useful comparison to make with how normal central banks and governments operate in the US.

It might not be the most perfect comparison, but it really goes to show how you can still hold your ground even when the candlesticks are throwing absolute chaos your way. It’s all about survival in those brutal market conditions.

At the end of the day, the people in power are always the ones rewriting the rules—especially when things start falling apart right under their feet. Just look at history: the Americans have buried the gold standard twice before, both times just as they were staring down the barrel of bankruptcy.

Honestly, this whole thing about paying in Rubles is just another one of those classic smoke-and-mirror tricks from Russia. Look, Russia still has open accounts in Dollars and Euros for incoming payments, and they’re all tied down by these long-term contracts that the Russians love to bring up whenever they want to sound important. If they actually wanted to, they could shut those accounts down tomorrow and send the money right back in Dollars or Euros to the European Union. But they don't. They aren't doing it. And if they’re really over being dependent on Dollars and Euros, then they should just close them once and for all instead of playing these games. 🍿

goldenowl73 said:Honestly, this whole thing about paying in Rubles is just another one of those classic smoke-and-mirror tricks from Russia. Look, Russia still has open accounts in Dollars and Euros for incoming payments, and they’re all tied down by these long-term contracts that the Russians love to bring up whenever they want to sound important. If they actually wanted to, they could shut those accounts down tomorrow and send the money right back in Dollars or Euros to the European Union. But they don't. They aren't doing it. And if they’re really over being dependent on Dollars and Euros, then they should just close them once and for all instead of playing these games. 🍿

That shift is likely coming sooner rather than later, given that we are drifting toward total war. Besides, Europe could just stop buying Russian gas and oil altogether instead of merely debating the topic and drafting endless contingency plans for some vague point in the future.

Justin Kern67 said:That shift is likely coming sooner rather than later, given that we are drifting toward total war. Besides, Europe could just stop buying Russian gas and oil altogether instead of merely debating the topic and drafting endless contingency plans for some vague point in the future.

It could happen, and frankly, it should happen ASAP for the sake of the Euro or the Ruble.

goldenowl73 said:It could happen, and frankly, it should happen ASAP for the sake of the Euro or the Ruble.

I am in agreement. I simply have no idea what they are waiting for.

Justin Kern67 said:That shift is likely coming sooner rather than later, given that we are drifting toward total war. Besides, Europe could just stop buying Russian gas and oil altogether instead of merely debating the topic and drafting endless contingency plans for some vague point in the future.

I must have missed the memo...☕

rustynomad12 said:I must have missed the memo...☕

It will be happening shortly. 😉

Michael Ortiz68 said:That was always a German scheme. The whole plan was controversial from day one, long before the war in Ukraine was even on anyone's radar. And whenever anyone dared to criticize it, they’d just claim it was a conspiracy by the US to push more expensive LNG—though, to be fair, there was some truth to that, too.

On the other hand, you look at all these long-term European strategies—low-carbon initiatives, the 2021 climate laws, the Green Deal, Fit for 55... it’s all centered on pivoting away from fossil fuels. There has always been a healthy amount of skepticism regarding how feasible this transition actually is, but now, more than ever, it feels like an absolute necessity.

For Putin, however, this isn't just a distant possibility; it’s been his stated objective sitting right there in plain sight for fifteen years now.

"You didn't listen to him then, so you'll have to listen to him now." Perhaps. Or perhaps we'll just continue our tradition of pretending he isn't being entirely serious about everything he says.

Roger Nelson5 said:It looks like they’ve officially reopened the stock exchange in Washington, D.C., and shares are already climbing.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/24/wild...-shutdown.html

How realistic is it really that Delta Air Lines only drops by 16% when their fleet—which they don't even own, mind you—is just sitting idle on runways under Seremetjev and his crew?

A total Potemkin village.

Following the expulsion of 45 diplomats from Poland, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a warning today, threatening to take measures that will force "Polish provocateurs" to rethink their actions. 🤣

.. promising a response "that will give those Polish provocateurs something to think about" .
13:50

Nathan Evans78 said:USD/RUB 95.700

Where are you hiding, Roger Nelson5? I’m still waiting on those doomsday candlesticks of yours! 🤣

It’s pretty nice of Russia to give its citizens a chance to de-rubleize themselves 😁 I’m just curious what the black market exchange rate looks like on the streets of Moscow right now...

German ZDF is reporting that there's been an agreement reached at the EU level to stop all gas payments in rubles.👍👍

Now, let's wait and see if that absolute scumbag actually follows through by halting those daily transfers of 200 million euros.🤔

LP i

Bryan Booth82 said:German ZDF is reporting that there's been an agreement reached at the EU level to stop all gas payments in rubles.👍👍

Now, let's wait and see if that absolute scumbag actually follows through by halting those daily transfers of 200 million euros.🤔

LP i

So the Canadians are on board too?

It’s quite amusing to watch Biden lecture China on behalf of the entire European Union: "Biden said he had made clear to Chinese President xi Jinping that He would be putting his economic relations with The US and EU in “significant jeopardy” if he were to help Russia" : https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60856533

There is absolutely no reason to doubt that once a serious conflict breaks out, they will find themselves defending Europe—and doing so right there on European soil.

Richard Wilson4 said:So the Canadians are on board too?

And what’s the endgame here? It isn't like I can just snap my fingers and teleport him out of Russia.

Justin Kern67 said:It’s quite amusing to watch Biden lecture China on behalf of the entire European Union: "Biden said he had made clear to Chinese President xi Jinping that He would be putting his economic relations with The US and EU in “significant jeopardy” if he were to help Russia" : https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-60856533

There is absolutely no reason to doubt that once a serious conflict breaks out, they will find themselves defending Europe—and doing so right there on European soil.

Without America, after WW2, you'd have seen the Frenchmen, Italians, and Dutchmen getting a front-row seat to the perks of real socialism and brotherhood with Moscow.