GPS, I'd say Putin is not just a hypocrite, but a liar and murderer too. <So he’s a hypocrite.> He's in good company there. Obama is the world's pre-eminent dronester and we can tell when he's lying by his lips moving. As for hypocrisy, take a look at his "I will not rest" statements and super-expensive holidays along with his family's separate jaunts. I suppose playing golf is not resting so he's true to his word.
There is no shortage of hypocrisy in political power-seekers. If gold was like hypocrisy, it would be 2c an ounce.
Perhaps you are right that the Russian presidential elections are enhanced in his favour, but with 80% popularity, he'd win a lot better than Barry won the last USA presidential election. I doubt that they are significantly enhanced or that the polls are so bung.
I bet a lot of Americans would vote for him as president of the USA because he would secure the southern border for a start. Sure enough, Google soon led me there: "Would you rather be governed by Putin or Obama?" - Occam's Razor: occamsrazormag.wordpress.com
Hawkmoon answered the Ukrainian insurrection comment but not satisfactorily. Yes, after the fact, the illegal insurrection was validated by the winners, but that didn't make the initial insurrection legal. Try a similar insurrection in the USA and see how it goes. Kent State gave a small sampler of what awaits anybody daring to gather in greater numbers than permitted. Recently, there was nearly some murder when a free range cowboy and supporters confronted the federal government's parks police. The government decided the shoot-out would have looked a bit too icky on tv. They'll be back.
Russia has courts: <This was not the case for Yukos.> The process of eminent domain is different in Russia, and China. In China, the government and courts are at present in the process of robbing me [Qualcomm their target] with their version of due process. Russia's due process is Putin saying how it goes. It's not all that different with Obama - the constitution is an also-ran with him. As Nixon said, 'When the president does it, that means it's not illegal'. youtube.com Bombing Vietnam and Cambodia into the stone age were also presumably legal. Look at the gnashing of teeth over some careful Israeli self-defence and the wanton bombing of Vietnamese and Cambodians. When Obama drones another wedding, that means it's not illegal.
Siberia is in the process of shifting. China is burgeoning, with 1.3 billion people.
You might call it desperation. People negotiate according to their position. Russia had reduced options so sold to the highest bidder. Europe didn't want to trade, so Russia picked the next best: <China's Xi Jinping drove a brutal bargain in May on a future Gazprom pipeline, securing a price near $350 per 1,000 cubic metres that is barely above Russia's production costs.> It's a good deal for Russia and China. It's a bad deal for Europe which is left out in the cold.
People often like to claim that competitors are striking bargains "below cost", which usually means they are jealous and wanting preferential political favours. It's whiny and pathetic. The Euroserfs are heading for trouble and will get it. The USA is in trouble already. fredoneverything.net
Russia will shortly offer humanitarian assistance in Ukraine since the barbarians continue to rampage. They didn't even stop while the rubble from the Malaysian airliner was cleared up. Russia should enforce a secure zone and stabilize the situation, then arrange referenda for the Scottish Ukraine in the east. Democracy is a pretty good way to handle the situation. The Nuland F-bomb process is not.
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