Russian Ploy

The longer Russia waits on the Ukrainian boarder, the richer they are getting. Oil and gas are responsible for more than 60% of Russia's exports and provide more than 30% of the country's gross domestic product and those prices are skyrocketing. It is the highest its been in 8 years and up 40% of the pre-covid levels. And they can bargain for even better deals, as they have a lot of leverage now. Whatever they get is a bonus, and they can move their troops off and blame the war-crazy, corrupt Americans for trying to start a war. Than they can come back in six months and do this again. Or maybe just wait until there is a different US President, who might not care as much about NATO or protecting foreign democracies (and perhaps keeping oil prices high will increase the likelihood of a different US president in just two years). 

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