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The day when Russia broke all conventions, all human rights and did what few actually thought they would do. Putin’s Russia went to full-scale war against its neighbor. Why? Because Putin fears Ukrainian democracy. February 24, 2022 is the blackest day in the history of Europe after World War II.

Why is Russia doing this now?

Among those who know Ukraine and those who have experienced Russia under Putin’s regime, this does not come as a surprise. Western Europe has become dependent on Russian gas. Many have warned that Russia could use that dependency for a more aggressive policy towards the outside world. Our concern was today, 24 February 2022, that we were right. Russia cares zero about sanctions from Western Europe and the United States, Russia can hit countries like Germany and the Netherlands by turning off the gas taps. Putin is sitting with all the cards. Those who claimed that a gas supply from Russia was independent and wanted to strengthen peace in Europe did not know what they were talking about.

Russia does not fear Western sanctions. These will be met with sanctions against western countries. The gas taps will probably be turned on again. As we have warned against. Gas and oil are used politically.

Sanctions

Norway must follow the sanctions. In fact, the Petroleum Fund has shares in Russian companies that are on the list of Russian companies being boycotted in the West. I take it for granted that the Petroleum Fund will soon sell out of these Russian companies.

I have always been of the opinion that sports and culture must be part of the sanctions. Russia must be deprived of all international events immediately. I see that several Norwegian sports profiles will not compete in Russia now. My pleasure. The international federations must remove Russia from all lists of organizers.

Sanctions must also affect Russians. In fact, it is the citizens of a country who have some of the responsibility for who governs the country. We can say that Putin is a dictator, which he is. But in the end, he came to power because the people trusted him. Therefore, we must say no to Russian Cruise ships to Norwegian ports. You and I should ask at the hotel where we book the stay in the south if they have Russian guests. If they have it, we’ll find another hotel. Only when ordinary Russians ask themselves questions about why they are unpopular, why they are deprived of sports and cultural events, etc., only then do sanctions work. Freezing some money for some Russian oligarch helps very little.

My solidarity with Ukraine

Sources:

NRK: Biden with strong sanctions and warning: – Putin has much greater ambitions than Ukraine

E24: Rystad Energy chief warns: – A deep economic war is almost inevitable