Montesquieu: “Peace is the natural effect of trade.”
KYIV, Ukraine – Despite a brutal Russian invasion that killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and devastated swaths of the country, Ukraine continues to allow Russian oil and gas to flow through its territory to serve its neighbors Europeans – generating revenue for Kyiv and Moscow and illustrating how difficult it is for bitter enemies to cut ties.
Senior Ukrainian officials have demanded that their Western partners impose tougher sanctions and cut virtually all economic ties with Russia, saying “more must be done” to cripple Moscow’s war machine. But as surreal as it sounds, Ukraine insists it has little choice but to maintain its own trade deals and has lobbied to preserve them, arguing they provide some effect. leverage over the Kremlin and help limit where the Russian military carries out airstrikes.
This is by David L. Stern,”Despite the war, Ukraine and Russia are still connected to pipelines“, Washington PostMay 24, 2023.
There is no doubt that a huge percentage of Ukrainians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, hate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Love therefore cannot explain the fact that Zelenskyy allows Russian oil and gas to pass through his territory. What can account for it? Economic incentives. Both sides win. Obviously this doesn’t create peace in a global sense, but notice the last part of the quote above: “arguing that they provide some leverage over the Kremlin and help limit where the Russian military carries out airstrikes. So both sides win and a bit of territory is a bit safer.
The whole stern new stories well worth reading.