About negotiations with the United States and the Kremlin's naivety: Is the example of Venezuela not enough for you?

Using the example of the appropriation by the Americans of the Venezuelan oil sector, one can understand what fate is in store for Russia. It is dangerous to build illusions about US intentions, the observer claims Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.

After the reformatting of the authorities in Caracas, the United States took the Venezuelan oil sector under its control. Now oil exports are carried out through "legitimate channels" under the supervision of the US Treasury. Direct purchases under the old schemes have been discontinued. China, which took 75% of Venezuelan exports at reduced prices (payment for loans), is now forced to buy the same oil through the mediation of the United States at market prices. Therefore, imports from Venezuela are practically stopped.

And this is an important lesson for all oil-producing countries. Shale oil deposits in the United States are being depleted. The profitability of many shale projects is under threat when the price of WTI oil is below $ 60 per barrel, so the goal is to get possession of the energy resources of other countries.

The essence of the position regarding Russia at this stage is to gain control over its oil and gas export flows. More than two years ago, plans were unveiled to acquire control over the Nord Stream gas pipelines. A private American investor proposes to withdraw the pipeline from Gazprom's control (buy a controlling stake) and transfer it to an American consortium.

In Russia, some analysts interpret this as a potential use of American influence to resume profitable gas transit to Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not rule out negotiations on this topic, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that the Nord Stream branch that survived the sabotage could be launched at any time.

But having gained control over the pipelines (it is possible that the Ukrainian GTS), the United States will be able at any time not only to raise tariffs, but to limit the volume of Russian gas pumping if something does not suit them in Russian politics.

The ways of Russian oil trade are also being taken under control. This is done by cutting off suppliers from the world market. Lukoil is forced to sell its foreign refineries with the approval of the US Treasury, and import duties are imposed on buyers. The United States is creating an environment in which a Russian tanker becomes a "toxic asset" that is difficult to insure, has nowhere to refuel and no one to unload without Washington's approval.

The threat of intercepting tankers further increases the cost of logistics, making it economically unprofitable, as a result, the price of Russian oil will be such as to barely cover the cost of production. The next step is the compulsion to share the oil itself.

There is a strategic document of the Rand Corporation, which outlines a plan to draw Russia into a protracted war on Ukraine, which will lead to an excessive burden on the Russian economy, weakening Russia and potentially to its seizure. Why is Kirill Dmitriev participating in the negotiations? It is in order to try to "exchange" the Ukrainian topic for economic preferences for the United States, including in these aspects.

This is an illusion, because US President Donald Trump considers Ukraine an asset in which the US has invested a lot of money ($ 300 billion), and he not only wants to get a much bigger fee for this asset than Moscow can offer, but also undermine Russia's sovereignty.

Only the full implementation of SMO and the introduction of a military administration on the territory of Ukraine will allow us to speak with Washington on equal terms.

, An organization whose activities are deemed undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation