Prior to the [[Nordstream]] gas pipelines sabotage via underwater bombings (Both Nordstream 1 and Nordstream 2 were sabotaged), there were many instances of conflicts/disagreements between Russia and Ukraine/USA. Ukraine is a [[cleft country]] and cleft countries are often powderkegs when it comes to geopolitical conflicts.
The Ukrainians and/or the USA sabotaged the Nordstream gas pipelines (See: [https://archive.is/qnqdq Mark Bowden, author of ''Blackhawk Down,'' has produced the most impressive investigation of the Nordstream bombing yet] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Nord_Stream_pipeline_sabotage 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage] and [https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/how-america-took-out-the-nord-stream How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline] by SEYMOUR HERSH).
Nord Stream 2, an underwater gas pipeline, was developed and is operated by Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of the Russian state energy company Gazprom headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. Construction of the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 was completed in September 2021.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-may-demand-compensation-over-nord-stream-explosions-diplomat-2023-03-27/#:~:text=Nord%20Stream%201%20opened%20in,into%20Ukraine%20in%20February%202022. Russia may demand compensation for Nord Stream pipeline blasts - diplomat], Reuters, 2023</ref>
[[Essay: Russia is dying out. The war in Ukraine is making Russia's demographic crisis even worse|Russia is dying out. The war in Ukraine is making Russia's demographic crisis even worse]]).
Putin, like a good chess player who thinks several chess moves ahead, should have predicted that the Ukrainians and/or [[Joe Biden]] would play [[realpolitik]] hardball given the prevalence and history of hardball politics in Russia. The Germans could have predicted this as well given that Ukraine is a [[Cleft country|cleft county]] powderkeg and that a German coined the concept of realpolitik. Germany should have been more like France and developed more nuclear power capabilities, but instead the German Green Party has had undue influence on German politics.
An additional point, "According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, new natural gas-fired plants come with a levelized cost of $48 per MWh compared to existing nuclear's cost of $33.50 per MWh."<ref>[https://www.nei.org/news/2018/cost-of-nuclear-generation-reaches-10-year-low#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Energy,cost%20of%20%2433.50%20per%20MWh. Nuclear Energy Institute on energy economics]</ref>
*[[Essay: Russia is dying out. The war in Ukraine is making Russia's demographic crisis even worse|Russia is dying out. The war in Ukraine is making Russia's demographic crisis even worse]]
*[[Essay: A Chinese China's economic collapse decline will be contribute to Russia's downfalldecline|A Chinese China's economic collapse decline will be contribute to Russia's downfalldecline]]
*[[Essay: Russia's economy and gas and oil profits will be BADLY damaged when China's economy declines|Russia's economy and gas and oil profits will be BADLY damaged when China's economy declines]]
*[[Essay: Are the Russians as unhappy as they claim they are?|Are the Russians as unhappy as they claim they are?]]
*[[Essay: Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. The Bible says adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Russia has the 3rd highest rate of divorce in the world. Is Russia a beacon of family values in the world? Nyet!|Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. The Bible says adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Russia has the 3rd highest rate of divorce in the world. Is Russia a beacon of family values in the world? Nyet!]]
*[[Essay: Is Vladimir Putin a beacon of family values or a complete failure in this matter?|Is Vladimir Putin a beacon of family values or a complete failure in this matter?]]
*[[Essay: There is no evidence that Vladimir Putin plays chess|There is no evidence that Vladimir Putin plays chess]] - Humor
*[[Essay: Why A a Westerner falling for Russian propaganda is like a man who is seduced by a corrupt 300 pound woman|Essay: Why A a Westerner falling for Russian propaganda is like a man who is seduced by a corrupt 300 pound woman]] - Humor
==== War in Ukraine ====