RT​ — It’s Putin’s fault… really?

Demonizing the Russian head of state will not in any way change Moscow’s understanding of its national interests. In terms of Russia’s domestic politics, the West’s treatment of Putin has only united Russians against the West and turned Putin into the most known and probably the most admired politician in the world.

This is probably an exaggeration, but it some significant ways it is not. The Chinese are paying close attention, and Putin is coming across as the guy with the spine to stand up to the US and say, No, we are great power and you can't treat us like a Latin American banana republic.

China is very sensitive to its great power status as the Chinese word for China indicates, usually rendered as "the middle kingdom" in English, but the actual meaning is the central empire. There is a rightist faction in China that is very sensitive to the hegemonic aspirations of the US and its Western vassal states (which is how the Chinese see the UK and other NATO nations, as well as Japan and South Korea. They see the present Chinese leadership as being too accommodating, in light of perceived US insults and arrogance toward China, as well as the military pivot toward Asia, which clearly means encircling and containing China.

The BRICS, too, are taking note.

Moreover, the Europeans are being forced way out on a limb by the sanctions that the US is insisting upon. This is affecting the already shaky economy in most countries and even the strong ones like Germany. Should this affect energy supplies from Russia, the Europeans could bear the brunt of the sanctions along with Russia, if Russia decides to turn up the heat.

I don't think that Russia is likely to do that, however. Putin is playing his hand pretty coolly in an attempt to pick of European countries whose future is more clearly with Russia than the US, especially Germany. This is about the worst nightmare for the US, along with an alliance of Russia and China.

This is a dicey game, and Putin is being crafty. Plus he has over the top approval ratings in Russia with US politicians' rating in the tank.

At this point, it seems that this kerfuffle is going to have global economic repercussions in addition to political ones. And while no one wants war, no one wanted war at the outset of WWI, either.

RT​

It’s Putin’s fault… really?

On another note, sanctions are basically a trade war that inhibits free trade and is a form of protectionism. And unintended consequences.

Roundup: Sanctions against Russia a heavy blow to Finnish economy

While voicing his support for the latest round of EU sanctions against Russia, Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb admitted that it will exert a significant indirect impact on the Finnish economy. 

He told a press conference in Espoo in southern Finland on Wednesday that the direct impact on the Finnish economy would be limited but the indirect affect in the long term could be quite significant. 

The impact could potentially even lead to an economic crisis in Finland, Stubb stressed.

Russia sanctions risk British jobs, warns JCB boss

One of the UK’s most influential businessmen has hit out at European Union and US sanctions against Russia, claiming that they are ill-conceived and may result in the loss of British jobs.

Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, said it was “absurd” that his company, a major exporter to Russia and the market leader for construction equipment there, would be hurt by sanctions “coming out of Brussels”. He added that the decisions being made by EU diplomats could put “British jobs at risk”.

Ya think that Lord Bamford has David Cameron's phone number?

Russia says oil deal with Iran no breach of UNSC resolutions

Russia said Wednesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran over crude oil shipments, and said such cooperation did not violate relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions restricting Tehran over its controversial nuclear program. 

"The Iranian side has offered (Russia) to participate in arranging crude oil shipments, including to Russia ... Volumes are to be determined by market demand," Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in a statement. 

The five-year framework accord envisages Russia's active role in "the construction and overhaul of (Iranian power) generation capacities, electricity supply network infrastructure development, as well as oil and gas," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted the statement as saying. 

Russia might supply Iran with automobiles and equipment as well as consumer and agricultural goods, it said.

And, of course, in addition, Russia and China are members of the US security council. If the US pisses them off, it's back to Cold War days of nothing ever getting passed, forcing the US to go unilateral if its wants to do anything internationally.