Putin finally admits why he invaded Ukraine (it's Ukrainian shale gas that posed a threat to Russia)

[Rassah]

Russia is a mass producer of natural gas that supplies large parts of Europe. If Ukraine suddenly figured out a way to produce their own, it would put the Russian economy at risk (since as much as 90% of Russian economy consists of gas and oil production). And then, unlucky for Ukraine, someone discovered shale gas there...

"It's crucial for his clan to control metallurgy in the east of Ukraine, as well as its military-industrial complex. Moreover, southeastern Ukraine is rich in shale gas which would create real competition for the business of Putin's Gazprom."

http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/why-does-putin-wage-war-on-ukraine-362884.html

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. And there it is! His neighbors, not just Ukraine, have reason to worry. n/t

[leftstreet]

2. His 'clan?' Whaa...?

[Rassah]

4. In this case, mafia clan.

[Scootaloo]

3. Is "Boris Nemtsov" a pseudonym of Putin's?

If not, I don't read Putin "admitting" anything in this op-ed.

Maybe change the thread title to match the article title, rather than editorializing the editorial?

[Rassah]

6. The admission was...

Putin himself said: “We need to start negotiations about a political organization of the society and statehood in south-east of Ukraine.” He pretty much always wanted Ukraine to become a Russian state once again. The natural gas discovery just gives him a reason to invade that specific region at this specific time.


"Boris Nemtsov is a leader of Russia's RPR-Parnas liberal party and the Solidarity opposition movement and a deputy of the Yaroslavl oblast's legislature. He was the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod oblast in 1991 to 1997 and a deputy prime minister of Russia in 1997 to 1998. "

[Scootaloo]

7. That doesn't actually carry the assertion in your title, sorry

[Rassah]

8. You're right.

[bigbrother05]

5. That explains what W saw in Putin, his soul mate

It always comes back to the oil/gas. Imagine what fracking in Eastern Ukraine will do to the local environment if Russia (or Halliburton) controls the process.