Emergency Meeting Of The Russian Federation Council

a reply to: JeanPaul

Ukraine had received $5 billion over the course of 20+ years. Other countries, Russia included, received more during that same time period.

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: JeanPaul

Ukraine had received $5 billion over the course of 20+ years. Other countries, Russia included, received more during that same time period.

Ya, they started after the fall of the USSR and really picked up the funding to promote "democratic institutions" in the 21st century. It takes time to drive a wedge between Russia and one of it's periphery nations full of (cultural) Russians.

It's the specific manner in which billions were spent, going to "democratic institutions" (ie NGO's promoting western friendly governments/protest movements). Why people deny this reality is beyond me. The USA/west wants as many nations under the World Bank/IMF structure as possible. Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela and a few other nations in South America, the Middle East and Africa are seeking to provide alternative paths to development.

There is an economic cold war taking place.

a reply to: JeanPaul

How is $250,000,000 a year going to do anything? Especially considering Ukraine has gone through at least four election cycles over the past 20 years a lot of people in power then aren't now. Besides $5 billion over 20 years is a paltry sum compared the the possible $100 billion+ Yanukovych stole while in office.

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: JeanPaul

How is $250,000,000 a year going to do anything? Especially considering Ukraine has gone through at least four election cycles over the past 20 years a lot of people in power then aren't now. Besides $5 billion over 20 years is a paltry sum compared the the possible $100 billion+ Yanukovych stole while in office.

It matters where the money went. It went to "democracy promoting institutions". Anyone with an ounce of honesty knows what that means.

a reply to: JeanPaul

Schools? Hospitals? So the US have Ukraine $5 billion over the course of 20+ years. In 2013 Russia gave Ukraine at least $15 billion. The US must be really effective at spending money if $250,000,000 in a year has more buying power than $15 billion in a year.

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: JeanPaul

Schools? Hospitals? So the US have Ukraine $5 billion over the course of 20+ years. In 2013 Russia gave Ukraine at least $15 billion. The US must be really effective at spending money if $250,000,000 in a year has more buying power than $15 billion in a year.

No, not to schools and hospitals. The money went to NGO's such as National Endowment for Democracy, USAID etc. As Victoria Nuland said, "we have invested more than 5 billion dollars to help Ukraine...in the development of democratic institutions and skills in promoting civil society and a good form of government.".

This isn't just blind "humanitarian aid" with no strings attached or no agenda attached. The funds even go straight towards political campaigns.

Wikileaks has also exposed the same tactic in Venezuela. Going back almost 15 years with the explicit goal of regime change, especially after Chavez got Venezuela out from under World bank/IMF's boot. The Pentagon has been very busy with this "democracy promotion ". In multiple nations.

China, Russia and Iran are setting the stage for a new era of market based imperialist competition. Offering new ways for smaller nations to develop outside of the western institutions. China has formed a new development bank, is seeking to make their currency a reserve currency, is planning a new Silk Road which would change the face of economies on the Eurasian continent down into Africa.

hbr.org...

time.com...

Venezuela has been leading the efforts in South America to marginalize World Bank/IMF. They've done so with oil revenues.

venezuelanalysis.com...

US economic hegemony (soon military) is being challenged. The US want's its and other western corporations/financial institutions to have dibs on developing Asia, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe. The US wants World bank/IMF and other western controlled financial institutions to lead the way. The US also wants to protect the US dollar by any means necessary and also keep oil flowing at cheap prices as the demand skyrockets with nations such as India/China/Vietnam boost industrial production.