Over the past month, an interesting conflict emerged between Putin's Russia and, well, some unelected person's Europe. The conflict was over who would be the Ukraine's big brother, and strategic ally for the future, and whether the Ukraine would snub Europe, i.e. the West, and reorient to its Soviet Union roots, by aligning with Russia. Moments ago, the fight over Ukraine ended. Russia won, and not only pledged $15 billion in future Ukraine investments, but de facto became the lender of last resort for the troubled nation.· PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA-UKRAINE TALKS IN MOSCOW WERE CONSTRUCTIVE
· PUTIN SAYS GAZPROM TO SELL GAS TO UKRAINE AT $268.50
· PUTIN SAYS UKRAINE BENEFITING FROM DISCOUNT ON RUSSIAN GAS
· PUTIN: RUSSIA TO USE SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND TO INVEST IN UKRAINE
· PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA TO INVEST $15B IN UKRAINIAN SECURITIES
· PUTIN SAYS UKRAINE'S MEMBERSHIP IN CUSTOMS UNION NOT DISCUSSED
· *SILUANOV SAYS UKRAINE TO SELL $15B BONDS TO RUSSIA IN 2013-14*
Europe, like a jilted lover, was sad but understood it had been bested.
· GERMANY’S STEINMEIER: EU’S OVERTURE TO UKRAINE FELL SHORT
· STEINMEIER: EU MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED RUSSIA DETERMINATION
Notably, this is the second major geopolitical gambit that Europe has lost this year: first the Syrian escapade, where it tried aggressively to replace Gazprom with Qatar (and failed), and now it has lost Europe's "bread basket."
Ukraine bonds welcomed the clarity, and that the nation is now officially once again under Russia's sphere of influence:
And now, with Ukraine firmly in the pocket of Russia, it remains to be seen how the local opposition and the pro-European protesters will react. They will hardly be enthused. Reported by Zero Hedge 1 hour ago.