Regarding that $15 billion that Russia had wanted to loan Ukraine before Euromadian happened....

[Tommy_Carcetti]

It was interest free.

Seriously. Interest free.

Which begs the question.....what really did Russia want out of Ukraine if it were willing to give Ukraine $15 billion in free money?

And had the Russia aid been accepted without any protest from the Ukrainian people, would Ukrainians be any less free of Russian incursion and meddling than they currently are today?

I mean, I'm sure I can get some free money from the mafia, too. Except there might be a few "favors" that would be expected of me.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

1. The Eurasian Economic Union

It's a pretty meaningless union without Ukraine. With it, it gets some heft. That was what Putin wanted.
That and of course keeping them out of the EU.
Despite the economy not doing great this year, and especially now after the Crimea annexation and the ongoing stuff now, Russia is actually very well governed from the POV of its national budget and the reserves it had on hand to defend the ruble. Less so now, and if he does actually do something that invites more sanctions, most of those reserves will evaporate. I'm pretty sure that's part of what's keeping him from actually moving into the east.
That, and he may know enough about chess to know what's meant by the saying "The threat is often worse than the execution."

[applegrove]

2. How much of that 20 Billion dollar debt was corruption. And how much of that

corruption money ended up in Russia?

[okaawhatever]

3. I read that it was 5% and that the IMF loan was, I think 2%. Since nothing was official regarding

the Russian loan, they can claim whatever they want. That is another part of the problem. The Ukrainians had seen numerous documents, IMF assessments and recommendations etc. but nothing on the Russian deal. If it's that much better than the EU deal they need to put it in writing and put it on websites, the same as the EU/IMF. l

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Say -- that's a nice Black Sea port you got there. I'd be shame if something were to *happen* to it.