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US Pays Half Of Gazprom's Overdue Invoice With $1 Billion Ukraine Loan Guarantee
With Ukraine no longer paying for Russian gaz, and with Gazprom making it clear Kiev has to a) first pay the overdue $2+ billion in invoice and then b) prepay some $5 billion in gas until the end of the year of Europe gets it, it was only a matter of time before the US Treasury stepped in and paid off part or all of Gazprom's demands. That time is now, when moments ago Jack Lew announced a $1 billion loan guarantee for Ukraine - very much the same way that the US provided billions in loan guarnatees for the now long overthrown Mursi regime in Egypt. And in other news, many more "costly" and "damaging" US sanctions are surely headed Russia's way any second now.
From the Treasury:
Treasury Secretary Lew Announces Signing Of $1 Billion U.S. Loan Guarantee Agreement For Ukraine
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew announced the signing of a $1 billion loan guarantee agreement for Ukraine. This guarantee, when completed, will complement the Government of Ukraine's International Monetary Fund (IMF) reform program and underscores the United States' commitment to Ukraine.
"The Ukrainian people have demonstrated tremendous courage as they have charted an independent course for their country and demanded a government that truly reflects the will of the people. The United States has been at the forefront of building international support for Ukraine, and holding Russia accountable for its violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and destabilizing action," said Secretary Lew in his remarks at the U.S. Treasury Department today. "I would like to congratulate Minister Shlapak on the progress he and his team have made in putting in place a comprehensive economic reform program together with the IMF. The United States very much wants to see Ukraine prosper, and we will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people as they move forward to realize their long-held aspirations."
The $1 billion loan guarantee is part of a U.S. bilateral assistance package that also includes technical assistance to help Ukraine return to a path of economic recovery. This loan guarantee will bolster the Government of Ukraine's ability to provide critical services as it implements reforms, while protecting the most vulnerable Ukrainian households from the impact of the necessary economic adjustment.
Secretary Lew and Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak held a bilateral meeting before today's announcement to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine and Ukraine's progress on its economic reform plan.
The United States will continue to urge its international partners to take immediate steps to bolster the IMF assistance package and move forward with bilateral aid and technical assistance.
And the inevitable photo op:
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Putin wants Ukraine gold.
Wasn't Ukraine's gold shipped to US?
The USA knows sees that they were not able to get the whole of Ukraine in one easy coup, though they tried. Now that its broken they will not put too much money into it since its worth a lot less in pieces.
Too late - stolen by EU/US/NATO/MIO2C already. It was the first order of business . . .
-30-
All this bullshit over a gas bill?
$1 billion to pay the gas bill. Meeeeh
$5 billion to overthrow Ukraine govt. Priceless!
I bet you anything that like TARP this money doesn not have to be accounted for. You can expect there was a lot of pilfering of funds.
It's really not money at all, just loan guarantees, not actual loans.
Can't cut in on banker turf after all.
Isn't this the whole point? Why would Russia take American $ as payment for anything?
Ukraine must convert those dollars to rubles first because US sanctions prohibit dollar payments to Russia.
US is shooting itself in the foot with a 12 gauge.
The US needs to aim higher, that's the only way to solve this mess.
where are the Europeans who use the gas?????? They should be the payers...not the USA..but we are stupid...how fast until those dollars are turned to some hard asset...like gold....if i was Putin i would make a big thing out of spending that money....buy some bling for Vlad..
This is the price the YOU-SA has to pay for EU complicity.
We aren't the ones who are going to suffer, and they know it. The Bankrupt US paying to keep Germany afloat,
Putin will accept US fiat dollars for payment?? LOL. Run those presses boys, the Ruski's are taking our paper. Free gas for everyone!
People should stop claiming 14th amendment citizenship and accepting benefits from the beast; otherwise you are just the surety for that debt. Your labor is the full faith and credit, the bankruptcy saw to it.
Section. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.
There will be consequences...these are the words Putin laughs himself to sleep to. Can you blame him?
I think I will try it tonight.
Ringling Bros must be pissed with all this unfair circus competition from Obozo's clown posse.
The neo-clowns in the State Department are predictable. But WTF did the Euro clowns think was going to come of their adventurism in Gods playground. Those people are true retards.
There will be blood.
"What are these US dollars they sent?! Turn off the Gas."
Foreign Fiat is Frowned Upon and Rejected. Show the Gold !
Free monies gimme some too
The headline should be "US Taxpayers Pay Half Of Gazprom's Overdue Invoice With $1 Billion Ukraine Loan Guarantee." Absolutely disgusting. What a fucking waste of our money. It's as good as gone. You might as well pour it down a rat hole.
We don't even know if Putin will accept it.
If he doesn't, it will not be returned to the taxpayer.
It will be used to buy arms from US & Israeli death merchants.
When you have to borrow money to pay for energy, it is game over...
That was the most astute observation on this thread.
I sent Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak a $100 Trillion Zimbabwe bill - that should cover their bill! Do I get the Nobel Peace Prize now?....
No, because you haven't bombed anyone yet.
Will Putin accept $USD?
Putin already called $USD crap used toilet paper.
My toilet doesn't want them either, keeps plugging it up and they don't break compost down well either
So how much longer are we going to let them butt-fuck us?
Oh,.. I'd say a little while longer now. The good news is at least the blood pouring from the anus from such a pounding acts as a lubricant of sorts.. It almost doesnt even hurt anymore... Just kinda numb and tingly at this point.
:^(
I guess until we can find something we can actually do someting about. So, it's elusive.
But that was obvious from the beginning. We have no leverage. Period. We can only continue to advertise our foolishness, or cave and prove to all how vapid and feckless this once powerful nation has become.
"I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." - (Alexis de Tocqueville - from Democracy in America)
should be ending right around june 17th... year 2450.
It's so nice to have a rich uncle. Must be what's given the mkt an extra boost.
'Cause every problem can be solved with a tap of the print button
But why is TREASURY secretary Lew making political statements?
Current discussion between Ukraine and NATO to create a ring of steel around Kiev and hope that referendum in east will remain part of Ukraine
My NATO source.
Ukraine will purchase this ring of steel with US taxpayer money.
It's disgusting watching the US hi-jack Ukraine.
It will have to be a very high "ring" to keep those Russian aircraft out.
Russia can roll right over Ukraine, and we can't do a damn thing to stop it, short of a nuclear strike.
Just let NATO move troops there and see what happens in all those European countries that will be asked for troops and financial aid. My bet is there would be a protest that would make our Viet Nam protests look tame. The average European citizen is paying a lot closer attention to the facts surrounding this than the average American. They can see how ridiculous this whole thing is, and I can't imagine many want to be killed in a dumb war....plus, they don't want to freeze come winter
ZH treats this like the US handed over some money - but this is much worse. A loan "guarantee" is insidious, crony bs. There is no capital transfer, nothing on the balance sheet of the US.
What crony of the US and Ukraine just bought a bond, paying high interest, but having the low risk of a US Treasury?
What is the fine print on the guarantee? Where must Ukraine's money go?
This is actually one hell of a deal, if we did in fact get Ukraines gold, and they get what in return? Oh yeah, some nice official looking paper. I hope they at least sprung for some good quality paper with some official looking seall on it and some really cool signatures.
Jesus, could these fuckwits be handling this situation any worse?
Vlad must be grinning from ear to ear:
"Eh Comrade, what else can we get these retarded pricks to pay for?!"
Putin better move his ass before Ukraine turns into another western fort.
lol. The comedians are out early this morning.
Putin is using the Commies in Kyiv to pay off Ukraine's debts, Kyiv will be excluded from the Russia trade pact, they don't want those lazy Commies in Kyiv, the EU and Greece can have them.
The Ukranian gold has been robbed and now they're being given a loan of fiat bux created out of thin air. What a deal.
In terms of assistance, Russia is Ukraines zoloft compared to the IMF or Federal reserves methamphetamine. Way to go Ukraine.. theres a new crack dealer in town
Notice to Feds:
Take a lesson from that situation at the Bundy ranch in Nevada. I just love that video with the Feds backing down while the cowboys on horseback advance, it represents American freedom at its best. History in the making.
I am sure the crooks in the halls of power panicked when they saw that, they realized this could of blown up into Nevada having a referendum and then they would of lost all the land they controlled. Either way they lost, had they not backed down they would of caused an event that would of rallied and woken up America. But since they have backed down they have now emboldened many more to stand up and do the same when they feel their rights are violated. I guess the govt will be shopping for mercenaries amongst the neonazis of Kiev.
You know this money is not going to be used to pay for the people's natural gas bill. I don't even need to see the audit after this is over. This is going directly into a few people's pockets.
Most will come back to US in military contracts.
This is how companies like Haliburton steal from US taxpayers.
I'm sure it will close up today.
More money for the death merchants.
AmayreeeKAAAAA
Death Merchants, Fuck Yeah!
I do not approve of this allocation of my tax dollars.
Duly noted
I do not approve of Jack Fucking Lew to manage a freaking lemonade stand, much less the U.S. Treasury.
(dup)
The worst president!!!!!!
Ever.
will be on the 2016 ballot
Berry is using Chicago poker on Vlad. Works in the US most of the time where most of the people are fooled all of the time. Good going. Is Vlad from Chicago?
More like Obanger is doing that Chicago thing where you run up and knock someone out with a sucker punch (after all they all look like they could be his kids with their hoodies and iced tea in the other hand), so what the USA does is run up and knock the hell out of a govt or a country out of the blue. Look at Iraq and Afghanistan and Libya and Ukraine just recently.
This just HAS to be an Onion article. Someone please, tell me it's an Onion article.
Maybe if I click my heels together...............
Here you go. This makes me think America might just have a future after all.
American's need to challenge the Feds more often, stand up and be counted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bD61YFxUga4
"Treasury Secretary Lew Announces Signing Of $1 Billion U.S. Loan Guarantee Agreement For Ukraine"
This guy's a joker, right? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Well he didnt specify which people and their will. Its really the will of the people in the halls of DC and the IMF and some Eurokrauts
"The American people have demonstrated tremendous cowardice as they have charted an exploited course for their country and accepted a government that gleefully shits on the will of the people, as it picks their pockets."
Equity buyers are in force
It makes perfect sense if you think of them not as stocks, but as war bonds
No need to thank us for the billion guys just continue to elect nazis and we're good.
a B is chump change, they want a new stadium for a football team in san diego and it will cost that much (the owners will put up less than half, the league the rest of that half and the other half will be paid for by suckers) so you see its really the same thing
The only perpsective and "truth" on the matter that matters.
Fuck Jacky "Jew"
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2014/04/president-vladimir-putins-letter-leaders-european-countries/
Ukraine will, like Egypt, be "buying" new jets in 3...2...
US REALLY ENJOYS PROVOKING WAR AROUND THE WORLD
IT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS
Lew cut bait and the piranahs are circling.
The purchase orders are flying off the shelves.
THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS HAPPY.
Mercenary pay!
Putin is not in a hurry. He can afford to bide his time and move when it is convenient to him. He knows that us throwing money we don't have at this is only going to help him in the end. U.S. taxpayers, SCREWED AGAIN!
Thanks boys, a small fragment of the that money comes to me as a Gazprom shareholder. recovery of my tax $.
Fucking bastards!
Don't you mean the US taxpayers guaranteed it?
Put the money in big, heavy bales and drop it out of a plane over Moscow. Maybe we can nail a few Mucowvites on the head to show them the USA is really pissed.
Don't, you'll hit some eligible brides just waiting to meet you!
Treasury has the 'lews' alright...
Fuck Putin. Up my FAFSA.
Actually the $1 billion won't all go to Russia - some will be siphoned off to pay the CIA mercs, and more will be siphoned off to the pockets of the 'new' Ukraine leaders and their cronies.
So basically with what looks like a possible Russian invasion and takeover........the US is acting as if it is still in complete control of Ukraine? It's like they don't recognize.
'Americans' are only interested in Ukraine as a trojan horse to get into central asia.
Central Asia is where some resources remain as the big poppa commie failed to consume them while still keeping them out of reach of the 'american' middle class whose fabled productivity and creation of wealth is only matched by their actual consumption of world resources.
Consumption, consumption, consumption.
The Russians cant invade Ukraine. Way too big for them to pacify. Would definitively break the russian narrative of the great tsarian mythological russia.
The 'american' middle class is obsessed with one question: when do they get their share of the loot? So they cant pay attention to anything else.
The thing is that many times, Putin the chess player has told that he felt like a duty to protect russian people anywhere.
And 'Americans' have being calling him out, advancing their 'american' interests.
Putin seized Krimea where there was no danger for russian people.
He let nazis beat down russians in west ukraine.
Now the interim government sent the military against the russians in Ukraine. Still nothing from Putin.
This is classical 'american' way to spread 'americanism': join them or beat them.
Pretty soon, the russians in Ukraine will see that Putin is not interested in people, only in territories.
Pretty soon, they will see that when they join the 'american' side, they can riot and overthrow a legitimate government. When they are outside the 'american' side, when they protest against an interim government, they are put down by a military force.
the 'american' middle class is self centered, that is "I, me and myself" crowd, knowing nobody else but themselves.
But at the moment, the whole focus is on the russians so they can choose their side. It will take time.
But in the end, 'americanism' will spread.
.
Big poppa commie lacked the consumption mettle of Uncle Sam. When it comes to consumption, Uncle Sam is a tyrannotsarus.
The Russians cant invade Ukraine.
the Russia invasion occurred thousands of years ago.
The 'green line!'
It's like a cash back payment for using the banks services. You like cash back on your cc don't you? In this case Ukraine received cash back for using the Fed's safe gold storage service. Ukraine can have their gold back with only 2 weeks notice.
Edit: Opps Ukraine signed a 7 year deposit deal.
The 'american' middle class is so used to handovers from their government.
The advance toward Russia does not pay immediately off so the 'american' middle class is angry.
Who could have thought that this will be a 10 day endeavour before 'americans' see their share of the loot?
It is going to be a several decades endeavour, with 'americans' bringing in their usual 'american' tricks.
But, hey, until those 'americans' who are less and less middle class because they must be expelled from it so that the other part survives receive their fair share of the loot, it is better to declare the 'american' endeavour a defeat.
.
That is the expected behaviour when people are thrown over the side of the boat onto the traintracks under the bus.
As 'americans' say, that is human nature. That is greed, if an action has no benefit for them, then it is not a benefitial action.
'Americanism' is the same as human nature, so 'americans' say.
Just as they say that people have a right to protest against their government.
the 'middle' class probably won't exist for much more than a year or two. 'The' walmart class and the elysium class 'will' be the new domination of 'America'.
Their greatest 'trick' yet : roll over and play dead.
Why did Putin allow the US to steal Ukraine's gold in the first place.
It doesn't fit.
It is not stolen, it is in "save keeping" for a very, very, very long time.
At least until the Chinese make them a good offer.
or if some gets mixed-in with the German unallocated 7-year planned return.
Fuck old people and the social security they rely on. That money is better spent paying for other countries to get free shit.
can't call the FSA the free shit army without actually arming them up in another country.
Russia needs to demand payment in gold.
That would screw with the Federal Reserve.
Russia needs to provide something else than turning 'american'.
That is why they are going to be defeated in the end. They have no alternative to 'americanism'.
For Russians, it is game over. They should find their position in that 'american' world.
You 'are' blobbing up right the back!
'Welcoming' back AnARoadsideShitting, we were 'missing' you.
No soup for you!
If Gazprom doesn't see a substantial part of that money flowing their way there we be even less Gazprom stuff flowing the Ukraine/EU way.
"We do not have the money" is no valid excuse anymore.
Why does everyone act so surprised?
We know this was coming.
In fact this is just the beginning, my friends. +$6B and counting.
Let the looting continue!
Time to borrow more from China!
Haha. Friday humor column has moved to Monday.
Nothing is funnier than reality nowdays
Real news putting the Onion out of business
Tribute
We need to print the looney tunes circle around the president on our dollar.
"Well, isn't that special" ~ church lady
The US cuts heating assistance to Americans but pay the bill of a bunch of Uks.
Please sir, may I have another.
Govt. Letter:
Dear Lady, please export your natural gas to Europe, and then we can talk about your assistance.
We need to start sending our emissions, is that inter-state ?
Gee, that was awefully nice of me. Could they send over a few tall sexy Ukrainian wimmenz to me?
As I sit down to write a check to the IRS for my 2013 taxes, I am delighted to see how wisely my money is being spent by those in charge. 30% of my time working was exclusively devoted to making this money for uses such as this foreign loan.
It's the tried and true method to enslave a country and population. Get them into debt, and then you control them.
The US Treasury has turned into a Pez Dispenser - doling out $1 Billion candies per click....
look, I found a picture of it!
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/images/AUTOIMAGES/BR13172lg.jpg
I have to say, the entertainment value of my federal taxes *cougn*extortion*cough* has certainly gone up.
Our democracy is broken. If this loan guarantee and its implications were put to a vote of US citizens (the ones who do all the work and put up all the money), it wouldn't pass in a million years. In fact, a majority of what our government "representatives" currently spend our hard-earned money on would never pass. This fucking war-mongering, country-destabilizing, resource-grabbing, morally bankrupt machine must be stopped. There are some very smart individuals who post on this website. It's time they came up with a plan, or a candidate, or something... something we can rally around and support. Something that will put a stop to this financial insanity. It's time to make our voices louder than theirs.
A Plan...unless you've got access to Soros type cash or are a Community Organizer, my guess is this is wishful thinking. I'd say there is a better chance of Al Sharpton being prosecuted and actually made to pay the million in back taxes he owes....
It's not about money It's about voices. Millions of them. It's all we really have. So loud they can't be ignored. When you believe it's about money, you've already lost. That's their playing field. And you'll never win playing on their field under their rules. How many on this website have ever called or written their representative and given them an earful? We should all be calling and writing them non-stop. Until they can't stand it any more. Use some of the energy and brilliant arguments I see on this website to pressure these "servants of the people." Remind them who they work for and who pays the bills.
unless your voice is .45 ACP no one will hear it.
hahaha
democracy.
You have a Fascist Republic, laws of the Elites over the Serfs.
I'm gonna blow a gasket this morning. I'm trying understand Obama here. Here is a list of thing he has done against Russia:
1) spends $5 BILLION on NGO's in Ukraine to overthrow Yanukoych.
2) overthrows Russian controlled democratically elected President of Ukraine, Yanukovych.
3) imposes sanctions on Russia
4) sends warships to Black Sea
5) LOANS $1 BILLION TO UKRAINE TO PAY RUSSIA FOR NAT GAS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Mr Obama, I thought you were trying to punish Russia and not give them US taxpayer money and debt to give to Russia. I am so confused.
Let me do that math here. There has been a minimum of $6 billion dollars spent here. WTF?????? Who is gonna pay for all this? I guess the power of the printing press and the ability to tax the herd is all they need.
Shuckseedarns, that sure is a lot o' cash on the line there.
Good thing you're a captive tax-slave and the Fed can print money driving your price of food through the roof to pay for all this.
Phew... that was a close one.
Holy Shit people. Here in the fucked up State of Illinois, the roads are so bad they are almost impassable with potholes and crumbling pavement.....they just cut off the Senior Citizen Meals on Wheels to 3 meals per week, and are doing Fundraisers in the private sector to make up the difference....and we're paying a Billion Dollars so we can keep another bunch of mostly Musloids from freezing their ass off? Unfuckingbelievable.
I am sorry... And I mean it.
CLEARLY this calls for new legislation.
I propose... the Affordable UkraineGaz Act!
That'll fix'er
I didn't know that Ukraine was a US bank. ITS TOO BIG TO FUCKING FAIL!
The only thing that is allowed to fail is the US taxpayer. Everyone else gets a pass.
Deduct it from the 10's of billions we give Israel every year.
LOL. This is actually brilliant. Paying off Ukraine's debt with worthless Federal Reserve notes will certainly piss off Putin.
hmmm...I am not Russian, but I somehow don't think anything in the original Russian-Ukrainian deal statd that payments are to be made in US$, have you? They paid in rubels before, so....Still don't thinkPutin takes dollars anymore, so there'll be a minor uptick in Rubels value soon....about $ 1 billion worth of it at least ;)
p.s. good theory though, but you killed it when you started your sentence with a lol....reminds folks around here of some trolls, you see "Z"eropoint...
Why is the U.S. Getting Involved? its not our problem!
So in a nutshell: Obama pays Putin for taking over Crimea.
Jacob J Lew another dual citizen who has always democracy on his mind, gave Russians democracy lesson and gave (other peoples) money to nazis. So typical.
Hey! Did they fix that fuckin pothole in your street? How's that student loan pay back going? Is your kid's school room still an unairconditioned trailer? I'll bet you'd get a car with better gas milage if you could afford it. So how many more deployments do you think you'll get? Do you think Michelle had fun in China? Are you still unemployed? Why are you actually afraid to cut off the cable tv? Are you afraid of the thoughts buzzing around in your head?
What's another few billion in free money? Sure hope you weren't expecting any help coming your way.
Did you pay your taxes? Good boy.
During the Spanish civil war the USSR provided weapons on a cash/carry basis for Spanish gold,and the infusion of KGB types to provide"advice" to the Popular Front government.
Seeking to contain any popular revolt,the West ordered a weapons embargo of Spain.Russia provided many antique,outmoded rifles and equipment.The Germans provided the Condor Legion with Stukas,Heinkels,Junkers transport aircraft,artillery and on and on.Hitler used Spain as a testing ground for weapon systems and tactics.This policy worked well.The combined arms concept was used with great effect against Poland.In contrast the UK still had the cavalry lance in their inventory up until 1927.
Putin isn't going to accept USD$ in payment for any part of the gas bill.
Fear! Terror! Punishment!
We will sanction you, comrade!!
And... pay the bills owed to you by others...
because that's what makes us look tough. Yup. Uh-huh.
This will promptly go towards buying 1m^3 of Ag (atomic number 79).
Fuck this.