No one can justify the horrendous acts by Russia as they invade Ukraine. Putin kills innocent civilians without mercy. The mainstream media is dutifully outraged as it provides daily/hourly updates on the atrocities. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS SLAUGHTER. But a factor that seems to have eluded the press is Russian motivation. Putin wants to avoid being hemmed in by the NATO alliance. He has without provocation attacked Ukraine to reclaim part of the old USSR (think “The United States of Russia”) as homeland. What isn’t shown is that this conflict is, like most wars, about economics. One country has something of value that another country wants…like two little kids fighting over a toy. In this case Putin wants the two provinces adjacent to Russia that are pro-Russian leaning populations and have been for years. It has not been admitted in the mainstream that one of these provinces, the Donets Coal Basin, supplies 80% of all the coal needs of Russia. Further, the citizens of these provinces want to join Russia but President Zelenskyy refuses to let go and hold independent elections. And due to the problems in these provinces Zelenskyy has placed economic hardships on the citizens. He has suspended over $600 million in coal subsidies that are intended to pay for–among other expenses–mine maintenance–to keep the mines safe for the workers. The result is many mines are in such disrepair that citizens cannot safely operate them. In addition, because workers paychecks come from the Ukraine Central government they are sometimes weeks or even months late arriving. All this ill treatment makes those two provinces very anxious to leave Ukraine and come under Russian control. Our guess is that Putin and Zelenskyy will not admit to this situation. As we said from the start, war atrocities can never be excused. But ignoring reality is going to result in many unnecessary deaths and major destruction. Holding free and independent elections in the troubled provinces would resolve Putin’s interests but we’re sure it would not sit well with Zelenskyy. Now you may have a clearer picture. Let’s see how long it takes to develop.

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