[poopsintub]

For a country with financial difficulties, it sure is taking some odd steps. Write-off North Korea's debt, now cancel out million/billion dollar sales to the U.S. for rockets. I guess they don't want us to build any more fighter jets before NATO attacks. ;)

[eshvk]

> NATO attacks. ;)

I am not sure NATO is going to attack a country with ICBMs and active nuclear warheads over Ukraine which is not part of the alliance.

[pavlov]

The Russian state is not in financial difficulties. The oil and natural gas industries are reliable ruble generators, having been effectively resocialized in Putin's era. Russia has paid off its foreign debt completely. The regime won't feel the effect of Western economic pressure any time soon.

The Russian economy is much worse off, however. Competitiveness and industrial development have been neglected by the regime that's happy to siphon off profits from unrefined natural exports. Quality of life is not improving, corruption is rife as ever, wages and pensions can go unpaid.

Lately the government seems to be trying to shift blame onto foreigners and deviants, and so increasing numbers of Caucasian immigrant workers and homosexuals are getting beat up or murdered.

Medvedev talked the talk on much-needed economic development, but turns out he was just a puppet. There doesn't seem to be much hope for change in the near future.

[jqm]

Maybe they feel they might need the rocket engines in their inventory at some point.

I think some rocket components were produced in Ukraine, not sure if that applies to this. So maybe they don't want a limited supply diminished.

[seizethecheese]

> I think some rocket components were produced in Ukraine

If true, this is a significant wrinkle in the story.

[trhway]

It is Yuzhmash in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine (still, Putin is working on the issue).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzhnoye_Design_Bureau (search for Antares :)

[bigdubs]

Rocket engines != jet engines.

But yeah, this is not sound fiscal planning on Russia's part.

[trhway]

>But yeah, this is not sound fiscal planning on Russia's part.

"sound fiscal plans" have never been endemic to Russia.

anyway, it was easily predicted :) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7649064

[mladenkovacevic]

As someone said jet engines != rocket engines.

But who do you think NATO should attack next with a wink and a smile? Ah yes, whoever dares to challenge the petrodollar, right? If that's the case then taking away their rockets is a good step for humanity.

[happyscrappy]

Fine astroturf comrade.

[mladenkovacevic]

Are you mistaking my honest opinion for paid astroturfing? Or do you feel that your own world view is so righteous that anything else must be a fallacy?

[happyscrappy]

Do you actually believe this conflict has something to do with petrodollars? Ukrainians want a better life, they see others with that life. I know we are all supposed to be afraid of Russia but please. A cornered squirrel is dangerous but it is still a squirrel.

[mladenkovacevic]

This is a classic argument for promoting Western intervention. "Don't be a monster, people just want a better life!". And somehow this argument gets translated into Captain America coming over and scorching the earth until nothing's left.

My hopes for making you just a little more cynical about these things are low, but please try and open your eyes. What is the first thing that happens in every country that gets "freedomed" by the NATO. The oil fields get secured, the installed regime continues selling oil in US dollars at agreeable prices, and the society descends into chaos... but the oil fields are secure.

Do you disagree that Ukraine is a polarized country and that the Euromaidan does not speak for the whole country?

[happyscrappy]

NATO has not scorched anything in Ukraine. Putin is being given enough rope to hang himself. The West is so dominant that Vlad should be afraid. The arc of history is long but it bends towards freedom.