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Putin To Get $3 Billion From US Taxpayers After Ukraine Bond Debacle
On Thursday, Ukraine struck a restructuring agreement on some $18 billion in Eurobonds with a group of creditors headed by Franklin Templeton. The deal calls for a 20% writedown and a reprofiling that includes a maturity extension of four years and an across-the-board 7.75% coupon. All told, Kiev should save around, let’s just call it $4 billion once everything is said and done (there are some miscellaneous loans and bonds that still have to be worked out).
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that Ukraine also owes $3 billion to Vladimir Putin.
Now obviously, owing Vladimir Putin $3 billion is not a situation one ever wants to find themselves in, but this particular case is exacerbated by the fact that Putin did not loan the money to Ukraine as we know it now, he loaned the money to a Ukraine that was governed by Russian-backed Viktor Yanukovych. Of course Yanukovych was run out of the country last year following a wave of John McCain-attended protests.
Well, one thing led to another and here we are 18 months later with a festering civil war and a sovereign default and on Thursday, Ukrainian finance minister Natalie Jaresko offered the same restructuring terms to Russia that it offered to Franklin Templeton and T. Rowe. In effect, Jaresko was attempting to tell Vladimir Putin that Ukraine would allow him to take a 20% upfront loss on the $3 billion he loaned to Yanukovych who was overthrown by the current Ukrainian government with whom Moscow is effectively at war. As you might imagine, Putin was not at all interested.
So what happens now?
Well, it’s very simple actually. Someone owes Vladimir Putin $3 billion which he intends to collect in full and he could care less if Franklin Templeton and T. Rowe Price are willing to take a 20% hit.
Who’s going to pay him, you ask? Probably the US taxpayer. Here’s BofAML:
The $3bn Russian bond is included in debt restructuring, but Russia will not participate in debt restructuring and will either be paid $3bn from reserves in December or there will be a political decision to agree on an extension, likely without haircuts. We believe the $3bn bond is likely to be classified as sovereign debt and the IMF would likely be forced to pay it (as a holdout) in order to continue the program in December.
Got that? The IMF (so, the US with the tacit support of the taxpayer) is going to pay Vladimir Putin his $3 billion which he loaned to Viktor Yanukovych who the US effectively helped to overthrow.
And if that isn’t hilarious enough for you, consider that the rationale behind paying Putin 100 cents on the dollar is that the IMF needs to be able to justify the continual flow of IMF bailout funds to Kiev, some of which must be used to pay Gazprom which immediately remits the funds to Putin’s personal money vault.
So in a nutshell, the US is going to pay Putin in order to ensure that it can continue to pay Putin.
* * *
Bonus: Ukraine restructuring decision tree
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So is he taking that in gold or does it get deposited into his Chase checking account?
Can we at least go in halves with Vicky Nudelman?
What makes you think a Nudelman will settle for half? She is worse than an ex wife, she wants it ALL!
Nice to see ZH has taken up the MSM "tradition" of conflating Putin with Russia... as if he owns the place.
Ukraine owes "Putin" $3b? Gimme a fucking break Tyler.
That's exactly what I was thinking as I was reading the article. It's so obvious I'm wondering if it's some kind of reverse psychology bs.
The correct picture to have been posted would have been the one of Putin shirtless carrying a rifle. Or perhaps the one wearing the Spetznaz hat while catching a fish.
Hmmmm. 3 Billion in pound of flesh ala John Perkins "Confessions Of An Economic Hitman."
Based upon many hundreds of hours of observation (or more); although I am confident Putin is set for life, I do nor believe that Putin is ripping off Russia anywhere near the way that the banks, trans-national corporations, lobbyists and politicians are ripping off the US.
If it wasn't for Putin, Russia would still be in its early 90s post-coup state.
I think the Jedi mind trick picture is quite appropriate.
How much do US taxpayers just give away in weapons support and military aid to other countries?
Regardless of who owes who what through some IMF paper game, $3 billion is a drop in the bucket.
This reception propaganda from the field of psychology. Propaganda tries to put relations between states, "Russia - Ukraine", to the level of relations between individuals: Putin - Yanukovych.
In Kiev, already voices that "Ukraine under Yanukovych" and "Ukraine under Poroshenko" - is a two different state.
If this is true, then Russia will not have any obligations, for a new country called "Ukraine Poroshenko."
This a new country also does not have any rights to the Crimea and all the eastern lands. Because the population of all these lands, does not want to be part of the new state "Ukraine Poroshenko."
This means that "Ukraine Poroshenko" - a new state, which is the aggressor and who is trying to colonize colonize the land, contrary to the democratic will of the local population in these lands.
Well said... thanks
Is Vladimir Putin a code word for the Russian taxpayers?
It should be:
The bad news is that Ukraine also owes $3 billion in sovereign debt to Russia's taxpayers.
If Ukraine allowed to restructure sovereign debt as private debt, than Greece, Brazil, China, and all the other countries including Russia and the US should be allowed to do the same.
Saying Putin, who MSM tend to demonize for TPTB, is just propaganda.
The point is, money given to Ukraine is intended to help them pay debts. Debts like this one.
Who cares who Ukraine pays off, or who they don't pay off. A blind duck knows you don't extend credit or handouts to Ukraine. Jeez. What dimwit even dreamed up that harebrained scheme?
Russia isn't our enemy - they're McCain's and the cold-war era neocon's enemy. Between the two, Russia has the high ground.
Why all the upvotes? Are there really only 3 of us who recognise a joke when they read it?
Weve been Vester Flanaganed!
Lester Lonnigan?
Chester McChuffinton?
Paddy O'Pagglesham?
Sean McStuffingham?
Penis McPuffington?
Qeermo O'Rumpimton?
Barack O'Bommington?
I can go on all day...
Please don't! You have bored us enough aleady.
Audry Farber?
Melonie Haber?
Susan Underhill?
How about Betty-Jo Bialovsky?!
Russia will take the USD so when gold drops further, they can buy more of that barbarous shiny stuff.
That would be wise. Considering Gold is surging with the ruble and lower on the USD. Either way silver $8.00 and gold $650.00 Coming soon.
Yeah, I heard this nonsese for year now. You guys should take a break...
In 2008 when the SHTF everything went down. But gold quickly rebounded. I expect the same over selling in the paper market in the short term than a quick rebound in gold to exceed the current price. Keep buying on the dip because you will win in the long run in my humble opinion.
Many buyers in the thousand dollar range very upset. Buy rubles for now.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/27/investing/china-copper-job-cuts/index.html
'Deer in the headlights' moment
Right. With 150% premiums for physical
Sorry. PAPER rules the markets. Not your physical holdings.
This was actually a recent question during a press conference. One of his financial ministers said if Russia gets the money it will be spent on housing. I assumed it was for all the Ukrainian refugees, some of whom are still living in tents.
Well U.S. taxpayers are ass raped on a regular daily basis, so this won't hurt, much.
That plus 99% of taxpayers have not one clue what is going on and if they do they must like it.
No, but we're all told, "just close your eyes and think of the nation."
HAHAHA!!!
US taxmules will pay Russia $3 BILLION so that Ukraine's Poroshenko won't freeze in the dark.
United Suckers of America.
Thanks to the petrodollar, every single person on planet earth is a US taxpayer.
All I gotta say is those cookies were damn expensive...
I'm not paying for it.
You're right, you're not paying for it. Our generous government is sending your grand children's money. They burned through yours long ago.
No kids, no grand-kids. I'm sure people like me will be considered unpatriotic for refusing to raise more slave generations for our beloved overlords.
Disagree. You should procreate & educate ypour children to the Pure Evil doers which have caused War Crimes & Treason & on the following: The Elite prey on the younger generations. They're easier towards indoctrination. G Edward Griffen interviewed a former KGB Agent who explained that for a successful Propaganda / PsyOp Campain to be truly successful it has to span Generation or be "Generational." Breaking the cycle, we must educate the young & call out the Criminals by name.
Personally, I don't know why I continue to waste my time posting here. Based on the followimg post I posted yesterday.
The vast majority of ZH's especially the veterans here understand fully that there are no more "Bear or Bullish" markets. There's only Fascism & Ponzi.
"If central banks purchase stocks in order to support equity prices, what is the point of having a stock market? The central bank’s ability to create money to support stock prices negates the price discovery function of the stock market."
-Dr. Paul Criag Roberts
"These questions came to mind when we learned that the central bank of Switzerland, the Swiss National Bank, purchased 3,300,000 shares of Apple stock in the first quarter of this year, adding 500,000 shares in the second quarter. Smart money would have been selling, not buying.
It turns out that the Swiss central bank, in addition to its Apple stock, holds very large equity positions, ranging from $250,000,000 to $637,000,000, in numerous US corporations — Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, Google, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Procter & Gamble, Verizon, AT&T, Pfizer, Chevron, Merck, Facebook, Pepsico, Coca Cola, Disney, Valeant, IBM, Gilead, Amazon."
-Dr. Paul Craig Roberts
Government debt is never repaid, it's rolled over. Stop repeating this lie that your grandkids will pay anybody a penny. It's more likely that they are going to stiff everyone while inhering a world full of wonders such as highways, bridges, roads, hospitals etc.
Wait, It is the citizens that have rolled over.... No?
Check in in the mail, Vlad....
The first rule of Vlad club is - don't fuck with Vlad..
All the other rules as above.
The second rule - Chuck Norris isn't up for membership.
I SAY ABSOLUTELY - FUCK THIS SHIT!!!!! I'm not paying shit to anyone for anything - I've had it with all that crap. Now - on a lighter note - hey Vlad, how about settling up by taking Obama - you can have him and you can even make him your personal bitch. Excellent deal - right Vlad?!?
Huh?
Fall and Winter are nearly upon us, so Putin and Gazprom will get thier $3 Billion out of the Ukraine neo-Nazi putsch.
But now the guy's gotta come up with Vlad's money every week, no matter what. Economy hyperinflating? "Fuck you, pay me." Oh, you had a US funded Neo-Nazi backed coup? "Fuck you, pay me." Lost control of your most economically productive regions, huh? "Fuck you, pay me."
Putin: "OK, well, you can't pay. I'm a reasonable man! Why don't you just publically announce you rescind all claims to Crimea, Luhansk & the Donbass, and we'll let the payment slide."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9mTTp3ub5s
At 2:51 Sonny tries to get Tommy (Joe Pesci) to pay the bill. Ha ha.
Putin and the Russians are predominantly white Christians. Hopefully Putin is really taking Russia back from the tribes and scum bags like Soros, Porky et al.
"Russians Always Come For Their Money" -Otto von Bismarch-
Well, the US gambled by overthrowing the previous ukrainian government and lost. I guess if it had won it would have shared the loot with Russia, right? Now pay!
Yup, my first thought was that was just part of the cost of our military adventures in Ukraine. You play, you pay.
Fiat? fool demand it in Gold.
Good move, Vlad. US Congress approval rating well deserved.
I guess they didn't read "The Art of the Deal".
Neocons wasting American treasure and blood as usual.
No one mentions the $6 trillion lost in Neocon wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
US Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq to Cost $6 trillionhttp://www.globalresearch.ca/us-wars-in-afghanistan-iraq-to-cost-6-trill...
The U.S. has effectively destroyed the Iraqi economy which means domestic Iraqi oil consumption has plummeted. Meantime, via ISIS, the U.S. has taken the Iraqi template and placed it on Syria as well and down the road maybe Saudi Arabia as well. All that oil stays in (ground) storage until such time as the U.S. comes back guns blazing to reclaim it. If a few heads have to roll in the meantime I doubt any of the sociopaths in the US political elite will lose any sleep over it.
Recall all the blather about how the U.S. "lost" in the Vietnam War. In reality they killed 2 Million people (mostly working age males) and sent the Vietnamese economy back to the stone age. The VC won but they ended with a big bag of diddly.
That oil won't stay in the ground. "Medieval" ISIS (or whoever) will find a way to turn it into $, and there'll be plenty in the West who will assist them.
@ justobserving. I wont disagree that neocons will waste blood and money, but how are democrats any different?
What makes you think a "democrat" can not be a neocon? Obama is a neocon-lite. Joe Biden is not a neocon? What about all these war whore dickheads? Bob Menendez (NJ) Chuck Schumer (NY) Ben Cardin (MD) Bob Casey (PA) Chris Coons (DE) Dick Blumenthal (CT) Mark Begich (AK) Mark Pryor (AR) Mary Landrieu (LA) Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) Mark Warner (VA) Kay Hagan (NC) Joe Donnelly (IN) Cory Booker (NJ) Joe Manchin (WV)
Even Bernie Sanders voted for every military disaster except the 2nd Iraq War.
My hero
You don't want a bad check from Ukraine, how about a bad check from the US?
I say mint him one 'Putin coin' with the denomination of $3 Billion. They can put Obama's ugly mug on it too.
If a Sovereign Government defaults on a bond payment that is owed to a Sovereign Government that the U.S. doesn't like does it still count as a default?
Ukraine has never been a Sovereign country.
Now more than ever, control is from outside.
Of course not! The payment must be delayed until the government changes, and is liked by the US.
Problem solved!
AWESOME!!!
Not because Russia is getting $3 billion out of it but because the U.S. government is so fucking stupid for creating the condition(s) that made this possible!!!
Please pay us in that worthless shiny stuff.
Looks like Vlad learned from Goldman Sachs Backdoor launder of taxpayers thru AIG.
Yes and it all goes into Putin's own personal bank account. The $3bn isn't owed to Russia at all it's Putin's own rainy day funds apparently. Ukraine owes some mad gangster boss $3 billion dollars apparently.
And comrade how do you know all this?
I read the article! Ukraine owes Putin money.
bored
I think he was being ironic
Well at least someone got it. :-)
Why are westerners so fetishistically obsessed with Putin? 'Putin's personal vault?' You want to spread for him don't you?
And insinuating that the illegal foreign-sponsored overthrow of a democratically elected leader may be just cause to get out of debt is interesting.
The anti-Putin man-trolls are latent homosexuals. Unless they're the genuine article.
You need to see them throw a ball to know for sure.
I have OGZPY so some of that is mine. Until the ADRs get zeroed out when the shooting starts.
I don't think President Putin has that kind of money to lend nations. I suppose the authors figure the President of Russia should not try to get what is rightfully owed the nation? It appears some are embarrassed that no ussa politicians would do the same for merika.
Amerikans wouldn't know what to do if they had a statesman that actually cared for and defended their nation, they're so used to being screwed over they think it normal and are jealous when they see it elsewhere! The beaten wife syndrome.
The purpose of the article was to make you believe that VV Putin is evil. Not once was it stated that the Ukraine owes Russia, it was all about Putin.
Because Vladimir Putin is a strong leader, and an Orthodox Christian that stands firm for his people, traditional families, country and holy church he is demonized by the MSM in the West.
Putin has a backbone unlike all the spineless politicians we currently have in office. Furthermore, Putin does not take his orders from Washington and he will not allow Russia to become a vassal state of the US. This causes further villification as Putin becomes the personification of evil in the MSM.
Which is an interesting ploy by the Ukrainians. If they can get EU and USA to think it is all about Putin, they can sell the idea that the loan was "commercial" or person to person, and not nation to nation. Russia argues that the loan was at the national level and therefore not subject to the commercial haircut expected of people like Templeton Fund. Poroshenko is desperate for debt relief, of course, and will argue any silly old thing to get somebody to say, "Awwww, you poor boy. Here's some more money."
The $3bln is but a small ripple in the see of $50bln Russia owes to Yukos. My feeling is that Putin will be forced to pay to the later long before he will put his hands on the former.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/19/russia-warns-it-will-ret...
So how did the Yukos " owners" actually find themselves with such an expensive asset?
Inheritance? NO
Saved their money? NO
You know what happened when communism fell so don't peddle crap. The USA lost its opportunity to draw Russia into the west but instead found it is easier to attempt damaging her and stripping her through her bankers.
So how exactly did Ukrane end up owning this money? Wasn't that the bribe Putin paid Yanukovich not to sign the EU association agreement? Wasn't most of the loan broght back to Russia in black suitcases aboard a pair of Augusta helicopters along with the escaped thug only to be spent on steering unrest in the Donbas?
answer the question please.
If you mean the question I posted myself - it is rather rhetorical and the answer is in affirmative.
If the question pertains to the origins of the Yukos ill gotten riches, one needs to be reminded to look at the true source of the problem, and it by no means started with Khodokovsky, but rather with his modern forbearer - Baron Rothschild. The very same whose gang holds the US by the balls by virtue of the Federal Reserve.
Why don'y you link us to some reliable source that knows what happened to Russia's $3 bln after Ukraine received it? And whether any funds remained in the Ukrainian treasury after the Nuland coup d'etat?
"...pay Gazprom which immediately remits the funds to Putin’s personal money vault."
More anti-Russia propaganda. ROFL!
Looking forward to reading the writer's alleged "proof" of the allegations.
Proof, we don't need no stinking proof. We haz EE DEE AWL O GEE.
Of course, as Putin and Obama are political allies given they are both Communists!
Obama: born to Communist parents, raised by a Communist mother, step-father and grandmother. Mentored by Frank Davis - Communist. Started political career in home of Communists/domestic terrorists (Bill Ayers & Bernadette Dorn), married by an America hater. His closest political advisor, Valerie Jarret, also born to Communist parents, uncle and grandfather are also Communists.
I'd rather pay him than the banksters.
Yeah, Dafne Schippers
Gold medal in womens 200 Meter final today.
Hup,Holland, Hup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLIOlxZdXD0
off topic
The reason why putin regime is suffering economic recession is not only because of low oil prices (look at Norway who also is oil exporting country) and EU & US sanctions on putin regime – problem roots goes much deeper than that. It goes back into 2001 – 2003 when oil prices where booming and Russia economy just started to get on it’s feet from crisis that hit 1998.
Cash from oil was flowing in Russia economy and it kept that way for next 10 years which was a chance for putin regime to make decision what way will Russia develop. One option was to invest in developing: industrial complex, agriculture, science, democracy, free market, free media, civil rights, free elections, fight with corruption – that all would bring to Russia more foreign investment, differentiate economy structure, stabilize social structure, etc. But instead putin regime choose different path: create regime control over media, attack opposition till their leaders jailed, killed, silenced, etc. Court system works for regime, but regarding economy putin regime didn’t invest in: industrial complex, agriculture, science, etc. – because it was easier to earn money now from oil export and buy everything needed as import from EU, US, China etc. So year by year more Russian manufacturing companies closed because could not compete with EU, US, China import. In order to stop unemployment level from rising in Russia - putin regime made different steps, like increased bureaucrats, created different kind of projects that had nothing to do with economic reason. Of course all those projects where created in order to steal more and more Russian nation money that was coming in from oil.
So more cash to elite, more simple jobs to people of Russia and everyone put on blind eye on corruption and economic reason and that could work for 10 years. Because oil export was booming, price of oil was high and everyone get his share of a pie. If something was necessary – it was simply imported. So In result today Russia manufacturing industry can’t work without importing many parts that are produced in EU, US. Now what that means for Russia economy in future? It means that as RUB continues to collapse it’s more and more expensive for manufacturing industry to produce anything as they need to import parts from EU, US but they must pay more and more RUB. In result their products get’s more and more expensive and they loose the market share. So they have to lay off more workers and this problem only will increase.
There is no way out of this. RUB will crash because of low oil prices and because Russia economy structure is not differentiated (as for example Norway has) and linked to oil export. Problem with Russia economy started before putin regime invaded Ukraine. It goes back into 2013. So only way for putin regime to stay in power is to create artificial outside enemy in order to mobilize Russian patriotism so that Russian do not to attack putin regime who makes him self as only savior. This can be done only if putin regime controls main stream media – which is what putin regime does. Putin regime and it’s elite knows that there is no way out of this situation. They know Russia is heading for a collapse. But they have no options to solve this. They know they have been stealing oil money for more than 10 years, they know they have been breaking international law by invading other countries like Georgia and Ukraine. They know they can’t simply leave their positions. Because than they will be hanged. And they know they can’t escape Russia economy collapse.
They know they can’t start full open war with Ukraine or worse with NATO – that would only make Russia collapse faster. They are stuck. And have no way out of this situation. Of course China know that, US knows that, EU knows that. So everyone will take their actions to get more benefit out of this and to protect it’s interests. Time is not on putin regime side.
My prediction is that putin regime will collapse in time frame something around October 2015 – June 2016. It will get ugly and bloody.
Beat it, you goddam troll son of a bitch
And if your prediction is wrong, do you promise to jump out of the nearest 10 story window onto concrete?
People in St Petersburg trying to get some free apples to feed their families:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNsn3I3_1uk
same time putin regime orders to destroy food:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeguBRJAa4g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn_w2FnZRS8
Ukranian girl in Crimea is bullied by putin regime occupation forces because of her necklaces of Ukranian symbol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZqCB-OsSQA&bpctr=1440070217
Under putin regime terrorists in "russian world" there is no law:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA3B3CvVb0k
Old people in occupied Crimea under putin regime rule doesn't have money for food so they sell out their belongings they still have:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckCmZyvn3fM
putin regime soldiers in Dagestan got drunk and attacked civilians:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkZvwYsl3wk
That is how putin regime army looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxtURBpl1rA
I looked up your entire collection of movies about Russia and i realized: the situation in the US is much worse than the situation in Russia, for each of the your video episodes.
"Russian-backed Viktor Yanukovych". ...Hmm? I am not sure where this myth is coming from, but wasn't it the US and "international community" who recognazed the elections with Victor Yanukovich? So we can say US-backed Yanukovich then.......Another idiocy: " which immediately remits the funds to Putin’s personal money vault". Putin is a general of GRU and as such would never have apersonal money vault, gold/silver vault-perhaps, but he would never keep his savings in fiat currencies, as I presume many of the readers here neither.
http://russia-insider.com/en/mess-nuland-made/ri8700
What next after the neocon rape of Ukraine?http://www.rt.com/op-edge/311635-ukraine-crimea-kiev-washington/
RUSSIAN WORLD
Life under criminal putin regime can get absurd. But in same time it’s an example how North Korea get to it’s absurd regime. Where everything is upside down and hate propaganda rules the day. I guess Russians are going that direction.
Look, putin regime with it’s propaganda announcing that Western products are banned and should be replaced with local products or imported from other countries. Those Western products that are found in shops are destroyed on site in most bizarre situation – like running over 3 packages of ducks meat and burning 50 ducklings.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4uVcptN1Lo[/embed]
Russian officials 'burn 50 ducklings smuggled across Ukraine border'
And that Russia will survive all sanction even if that means to live without food.
Kremlin hard-liner: Russians would 'rather starve' than surrender Putin to Western aggressors
That is what putin regime elite & it’s controlled propaganda telling to Russians.
Now, in same time putin regime elite is buying Western Luxus products
Vladimir Putin's spokesman in luxury watch scandal; Russian bloggers cry corruption after Kremlin press secretary flashes £400,000 timepiece at his wedding
Travels to Western countries with Western Luxury yachts:
After Wristwatch Scandal, Putin’s Spokesman Grilled Over Luxury Yacht
Sends their children to study in Western schools and lives in Western countries:
Educating Their Children Abroad Is the Russian Elite's Guilty Secret
They don’t use Russian medical services but instead for some reason they choose Western medical treatment.
Russians Should Show Mercy to Kobzon
Of course they can offered it because they steal money from Russians 24/7
16 Eye-Popping Examples Of Alleged Corruption At The Sochi Olympics
Russia Awards Lucrative Crimea Bridge Contract to Putin's Crony
In normal country this would not be possible as people would protest against stealing their money and for these double standards putin regime lives in. But under putin regime rule – there isn’t such problem for elite because criminal putin regime just like hitler is in control over mass media in Russia:
How the Media Became One of Putin’s Most Powerful Weapons
And putin regime propaganda even attacks Western world:
Bad news for Putin as support for war flags beyond Russia’s ‘troll farms’
Woman who sued pro-Putin Russian 'troll factory' gets one rouble in damages
So here you go – people in Russia is living in crazy world under putin regime hate and lies propaganda. I just hope they will wake up before they are not led to North Korea style regime. But for one thing I am sure – there will be revolution in Russia. I just hope people of Russia will win it – not the corrupt elite.
Russian world in Donbass: https://youtu.be/Kayy9XrjbrU
This how russia looks like: https://medium.com/vse-ploho/google-street-view-1-fd4f5f3650ad
Beat it, you goddam troll son of a bitch.
More useless BS rants and drivel from our ZH resident Latvian troll,a.k.a. viedoklis_lv, a.k.a. freedom123, a.k.a. newsoutlet.
Doesn't this guy have a real job?
But it is illuminating to see where he/she gets the articles. All of it from the Russophobic media. They all get the same memo.
Click below for what is really going on in Donbass:
http://novorossia.today/
Uncle Sugar has given far more taxpayer money to far worse people (the House of Saud) come to mind. And Putin didn't actually steal the money lent to "Ukraine" in the days when "Ukraine" wasn't under German control.
Far more preferable would be the re-unification of Great and Little Russia and making the "Ukrainian" Nazis pay it off in kind over a long working holiday in Siberia. But one thing at a time.
Siberia don't want them.
It will be interesting to see how far the Putinsky allows the Slovaks to backflow gas to the Ukrainskies.
Slovaks don't have the money to float the Ukrainskies, they will need EU/IMF/Banksters to promote more loans. Does the Ukrainskies have any more gold left?
Bravo ZH, unmentioned massive haircut taken by CALPERS (do they know about proper 13?) oops nobody knows yet my bad.
Bravo ZH, unmentioned massive haircut taken by CALPERS (do they know about proper 13?) oops nobody knows yet my bad.
They should tell Putin they left his money somewhere in Crimea.
and he can kiss their ass.
Well you have no option but to "pay the Putin"...... or else pretty soon a few more commercial airliners will likely be accidently shot down.
Sources in the tech world frequently mention that Russia is slowly but steadily building up industry and infrastructure. Building their own microprocessor chip fabrication plants, usable operating systems, etc.
They sure are not building F-35s!
It seems like every car in Russia has a dashboard camera, so there are many YouTubes of odd highway antics, meteor fireballs, and so on. If you look closely at the roadways, bridges, and so on, you will see that they in top-notch condition.
I live in relatively well-off New England, and the sidewalks are so broken up that I get a sprained ankle now and then. Even in late summer the roads are full of large cracks and even holes. The state is constantly adding new columns to the crumbling bridges. Almost half of the people here are on food stamps and our new food pantry has mostly empty shelves. There are beggars on almost every street corner.
I would like to check out Detroit but the fear of it is too great.
That is the real difference.
Poor roads in Russia are legendary, but the really bad ones are in rural areas where the road repair budget is stretched over thousands of square kilometers. From what I've seen in news reports, the main cities have more success in filling potholes. However, winter is as bad for New England roads as it is for Siberian roads.
Who needs F-35's?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZWfAokVnxs
http://www.ecnmag.com/blog/2014/04/think-tank-russian-stealth-fighter-su...
The Sukhoi PAK FA T-50 is a serious piece of equipment.
If one takes the long view in hindsight, it is clear that the Soviets succeeded beyond their wildest dreams in causing the west to implode by infiltrating and agitating the "youth" of the late 50's, 60's and 70's -- who are now running what is left of the global "economy" into the ground. Only trouble is the Socialist Republics didn't survive long enough to reap the rewards, so the Russians are just salvaging what they can. As are the Chinese. The west will not survive the 1960s.
I should clarify: Russia is no longer a Soviet Socialist Republic. It has reverted to a more stable state that has every right to pursue it's ancient interests. They would be foolish not to take advantage of the collapse of the western empire in any way they can. As a westerner myself it is none of my business who they choose to lead them, but I dare say they have done well under Mr Putin's leadership. In fact I quite admire the man.
I heard that silly rumor about us being "infiltrated" by the Soviets in the 50s, 60s and 70s. I was a greaser, pulling engines out of cars and stuff. Then I had a "career" as a hippie, doing, like, other stuff. We were not "infiltrated" at all. Actually only about 15% of the kids were hippies (and there were a few weekend warriors). Greasers were likely at about 15% too. The rest were straights (pink boys). Anyway, we didn't do the damage.
It was the ruling class that decided to off-shore most of our crucial industrial infrastructure. And that is exactly what ruined the USA.
How did a KGB spy and bureaucrat come el-presidente, come to have three billion? Or is that the sort of thing no one asks when it comes to Putin? For their own good of course? Putin is a thief, it's as simple as that. But on zero hedge comment section, he's a good guy.
The russian nationalist idiot loves pooty's hand in their trouser pockets! But it's OK, he does it for Russia!!!
Not one of your better comments.
Got a tummy ache?
Not trying to make one either. The entire article's approach is idiotic (I'm assuming a weekend Tyler came in a day early), deliberately portraying putin as being personally owed 3 billion, but that's how this place is, and has been, for too long. So I just did the same thing right back.
Clicking in here after a month or so of relative normality and clear thinking imparts an immediate impression of a site full of lunatics and morons, with less and less exceptions. So I guess you're right, I can't stomach the place any more, I'll be off doing other stuff now.
(but putin really is a vile scumbag, I did mean that bit)
Oh, don't go.
Occasionally you make a valid point. And if you stop commenting, newsoutlet will be the primary spokesman for your side.
Reconsider. Please.
For you to have such hatred for Putin, you and I must believe opposite versions of the same story. You see, I think that when the agreement that ended the cold war was signed, Russia understood that NATO would not make any effort to recruit the former Soviet satellites into that organization.
It appears that you believe there was no such verbal agreement.
Putin became president in 2000 and by 2003 NATO and George W.Bush began their march to the Moskva. In the face of the hypocrisy of the West, it is no wonder that Putin behaved, in your mind, like a scumbag.
What did you know about Putin before he became president? It was after he became president that you googled his historical scumbagery.
And the very same is true about our scumbag president, George W. Bush. How he went awol to help some scumbag Republican, with so much as a "so long, it's been good to know you."
In 1989 the President of the US was George Bush Sr. And George Bush Jr got a hefty loan to buy a share of a baseball team. George Sr. was at one time Director of the CIA, a position similar to one that Putin held. While Putin is reviled for it, Bush Sr is just the lovable ole sky diver. (the greatest PR move in American politics)
Bush Sr also had dealings with Saddam after Iraq made war on Iran in the 80's. It is known that the US supplied satellite photographs of the Iranian positions to Iraq, who then gassed the Iranian troops.
Also Bush Sr was in office when the Russians thought the Americans said that NATO would not drang ost.
If it's scumbags you're looking for, Element, just remember what Dorothy said:
Ah, I see you make the usual conclusion that if someone is against some side, then ergo, they must be for their enemy.
Sorry, I do not participate in partisan moronhood BTS, and never have.
I dislike Putin per-sec, in his own right, and not in relation to someone else. Especially someone I've never supported at any point, btw. And I would have thought a guy like you would have picked up that I'm not American, nor am I the slightest bit interested in what some other person thinks of Putin, pro or con (re the Ukrainian guy above). What I think of Putin is all I require thanks.
As for my general view of politicians and real politics, it's closer to this guy's (primarily for the humor value though as it would not be funny otherwise). The difference is I don't support a side, I know they're all crap and I also know some are quite a bit worse to live under, too. But if you're a Putin Russia fan, and you can adequately consistently explain such a view to yourself, then you have a problem.
Perhaps a Wizard of Oz reference is insufficient, try a Mad Hatter's tea party instead:
Cream and sugar Sir?
Enjoy the swill.
Whaaa? You didn't accept the premise of if you're not with us you're agin us?
Why...with enough of this type of free thnking all known contivances could absolutely go to pot!!! ;-)
How was I to know that you had no dog in the fight and that your "Putin delenda est" did not indicate a preference for a certain side?
With the world as fucked up as a 50 pence whore, for you to be so anti-Putin at here at zh, with hardly a hint of someone in second place of evil, bespeaks someone on a side.
Of course, if you say not, then that's that.
Was this a rhetorical question, or is it that you really don't know? If the latter, Wikipedia can be your friend.
I read somewhere, where the author seemed reliable and seemed not to have any ax to grind, about how Putin came to power. The story was that Putin used an old Russian trick; he pretended to be slightly dim-witted, sort of a "Columbo" character, so the Russian PTB felt that they could control him. In fact, this same story has been applied to Khrushchev, IIRC. I guess that's how it's done in Russia?
It looks to me that he is now simply doing a great job. (That kind of behavior really seems very rare now in this age of corruption and decay.)
How did George Bush a former CIA spy become el-presidente? Think about it. Bush was a thief and got us into the first Gulf war. Then his kid go us into more war in the Gulf on lies about weapons of mass destruction "WMD's" that were never found in Iraq.
Hey. Hey
read my earlier reply.
How did an awol, alcoholic with a dull IQ get a $500,000 loan to buy a share in a baseball team? And without a morsel of experience get to be Governor of a major state?
What's the real story about Putin?
I answer those questions and more
Yes, now I really see and feel that the US has provided money for propaganda against Russia and organized in Riga a new center of anti-Russian propaganda. Number of WH trolls on all discussions has increased dramatically. ))
Just reading about the EU, IMF and US loans to Ukraine reminds me of that saying about owning a boat,
Owning a your own boat is like having a hole in the water into which you just throw money.
Boats are for amateurs. Try airplanes! You know how to make a small fortune in aviation? Start with a large one!