Why do you believe knowledge about Ukraine or the fossil fuels industry is relevant for board membership of Ukrainian Burisma Holdings?

Let us look at the published list of all the directors;
Alan Apter investment banker
Joseph Cofer Black ex-cia
Aleksander Kwaśniewski ex-Poland President
Karina Zlochevska daughter of founder
Hunter Biden lawyer

Get that man protection from Swiss police now. Keep him away from balconies, park benches and holiday homes in Spain

I think the West are underestimating Russia's strategy with food and energy). By blocking/stealing Ukraine's exports, the resulting food crisis and energy crisis (together with the inflaction it generates) has the potential to de-stabilise poorer countries. It has already started with Sri Lanka.

This has could upset otherwise stable governments and lead to more regional spotfires and conflicts. Recessions will give strength to nationalist and populist candidates.

If Odessa falls, Ukraine and the world loses. Ukraine will simply be choked off. We can't let that happen.

Russia can survive without Netflix and McDonalds. We cannot survive without energy and food. Threats on both of these are serious and European countries need to take this more seriously and prepare for this.

I wouldn't underestimate the risk of regime change in Europe if energy and food costs spiral out of control and cause voters to push for a change of course. Food insecurity on the borders might also cause more migration into Europe adding fuel to the political fire.

LMAO marton.

There are two reasons why someone is member of the board, knowledge or connections (ideally a candidate has both). In the case of Hunter it's not the former, which you appear to agree on, it's exclusively the latter.

He's essentially paid for being his father's son as that gives him direct access to the US VP. That makes the entire thing shady and corrupt.

Hunter is a lawyer, and valuable to have on the board of directors.
Employing someone for their connections is neither shady nor corrupt.

Of course, if it can be proven that someone used their connections for corrupt purposes that would be different, but despite multiple investigations, there is no evidence - only conspiracy theory fantasies.

There's a natural experiment called 1973 oil crisis. In most countries government let prices follow offer/demand equilibrium. Of course, that made prices go up, killing demand. From a playful perspective, all this caused black hole of a decade or so in cars. No one wants the ugly cars from 1973 to 1983

Also, unintended consequences. France went from 0 to 70% of electricity produced from nuclear energy after 1973 oil crisis.

We're foreigners that think about energy and food costs. But never underestimate locals thinking about defending their countries, their homes, their families. Those voters may be looking at things beyond gas prices.

Back to Switzerland, Henry Kissinger interviewed for Davos WEF 2022.

Well, the guy is 99 YO, so be patient. He mentions how Russia has been some kind of counter-balance for Europe when looked over the centuries scale. The question on Russia re-approaching to Europe or going into long term separation is open.

Enjoy:

https://www.weforum.org/events/world...associates-inc

Unfortunately, the wrong policies are being adopted everywhere. Instead of providing cash to support stressed households, energy costs are being directly subsidised which diminishes the natural supply/demand responses as well as prevents households from making their own choices on how to deploy that support. oil is being released from strategic reserves to temporarily push down prices with no impact on stimulating additional supply (in fact, it creates the opposite effect and will worsen the longer term situation).

nuclear power was shutdown and pushed countries to coal and gas, which now they want to cut off with no alternative in place. no plan to address potential food insecurity in 2023.

I think people ultimately will vote in their own self-interest. when people can't afford to put food on the table or heat their homes, I doubt it will be popular to give money to Ukraine instead of supporting families in their own country.

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if the war drags on and it could possibly get to such a stage where where it is more politically viable to support an agreement between russia and ukraine than to continue supporting the war. if so that may be the point that the west decides that ukraine has served its purpose.

Which merits did Hunter earn on his own? What's his value as a lawyer when he has no clue about Ukrainian law? And yes it is when you're the VP's son and that's the value you bring.

Even Vox calls him a trouble guy and the black sheep of the family, an outlet that's not exactly known to be conservative or anti-Dem.

Biden will want a success story to sell for the 2024 elections.

These kinds of negotiations (for some version of peace) take lots of time, months at least, so the fighting may need to peter out in 2023 "already".

RIP Mr Bondarev.

Why would Hunter need knowledge about Ukraine law when Burisma Holdings is registered in Cyprus, makes no sense ��

I see the British have backed Lithuania's call for a naval force called 'The Coalition of the Willing' to break the Russian naval blockade of Odesa.

The Guardian - UK backs Lithuania's plan to lift the Rusian blockade of Ukrainian grain

Or push Europe over the fascist edge. Again.

So true. There's absolutely no reason to care about Ukrainian laws and regulations when your'e operating there.

What did you say Hunter's accomplishments are?

Have a nice day marton.

Exactly. Which is why I think the West has less to lose by calling Russia's bluff and mount an air, sea and ground attack to kick Russia out of Ukraine. Otherwise this will grind on and civilians, both in Ukraine and abroad, will become the effective victims of this needless resource/land/power grab.

at the moment, it isn't clear that we need to. maybe UA is able to do this on their own.

I get the impression that Ukraine can't progress Russia is willing to cede control.
Russia OTOH keeps pounding the Sievierodonetsk area and progressing gradually, slowly but surely.

Perhaps this might change if Ukraine got long-range howitzers en masse (25km or more). Otherwise this looks like a stalemate in the making, WW1 style without the poison gas.

See this map for instance.
Click the clock to display the time navigation arrows you can then use to create a crude movie.