Better than nuclear. I posted something before referencing a NYT piece saying that the Biden admin were thinking of winding back sanctions on Venezuela so it could export more oil to relieve the pressure on oil prices. They're still "just thinking about it" though.
It's insanely wishful thinking TBH. Maduro, and the rest of OPEC, have more or less agreed to not increase oil production due to Russian sanctions through abstention of the US sanctions and continued trade with Russia. On a more basic level, it's also hard to imagine why people who make money directly based on oil costs would want to reduce the price of oil. They're raking in cash hand over fist right now. With the knowledge that oil prices will come down in the future (we hit "peak oil" in terms of use a few years ago, it will only go down), it would be smart to just ignore shale and keep the price high.
The oil cartel known as OPEC Plus said it would continue the strategy agreed to in July, rubber-stamping a 400,000-barrel-a-day production increase for April.
www.nytimes.com
U.S. officials are reportedly considering easing sanctions on Venezuelan crude as oil prices have skyrocketed.
www.nytimes.com
More worrying is that Russia exports a lot of grain and fertilizer to these same countries, so increase in prices of those exports are going to make food riots a possibility in some OPEC countries like Libya and Algeria.
Russia also now said it will cut off gas to Europe if oil is sanctioned.
A top official says Russia may close its gas lines to Germany if the West halts oil imports.
www.bbc.com
I can't imagine a better time to be a shale oilman than if it hits $300/barrel, either.
It's important to keep in mind this is mud season. There is no "off road" in the rasputitsa. It swallows trucks and tanks alike. War of roads means roads are the control: the maps are essentially identical but one just highlights how little you can move off road. This explains the mega convoy is not simply filtering into nearby woods and terrains as it might in more solid ground like the South African veldts or a North American parking lot: they would get stuck like the Pantsirs have been getting stuck.
It may change if the war drags on long enough for mud season to end, but that seems unlikely as it looks like a peace settlement will be reached before then, as both Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have made "steady" progress (according to both sides).
"Russian oil will no longer be accepted in U.S. ports, and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine," the president said.
www.cbsnews.com
In a more bizarre twist of the truth, perhaps a sign of the times I guess.
False claims have been spreading that the Ukraine war is a hoax and that actors have been involved in staging events.
www.bbc.com
Conspiracy theorists really be out in force.
www.iflscience.com
www.independent.co.uk
gcaptain.com
airwaysmag.com
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.wsj.com
www.vice.com
www.abc.net.au
www.thedrive.com
defensiefotografie.nl
www.airforcemag.com
www.militarytimes.com
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
