[MichaelCollins]

> Do any contracts even matter between Russia and Europe at this point.

Doubtful. I think the most rational reason Russia might have done it was to remove a bargaining chip from any Russian challengers to Putin. But this seems like a stretch; if Putin thought some gazprom executive was going to use the pipeline to negotiate a peace with Europe, he'd probably just order that executive and his family murdered. That seems to be the way he operates.

Self-sabotage to preempt coups is not unheard of though. The organizational dysfunction and poorly trained state of several militaries around the world is probably attributable in part to self-sabotage, by politicians who fear military coups.

[mhermher]

Any serious opposition to Putin is actually more hawkish than he is. Not quite something that is covered often in our press. There is no neo Yeltsin lurking in the shadows.

[DSingularity]

Hmm, I wonder why oh why is this omitted from western media ?

[miguelazo]

Thank you! It’s absurd the Game of Thrones scenarios that people like to dream up when it comes to Putin.