Is Vladimir Putin really such an \? Could he still be just an evil idiot, as his actions testify His stubborn insistence that Germany and other NATO countries buy Russian gas for rubles was further evidence in favor of the opinion that he is, after all, an idiot..

Lawrence Kotlikoff, professor of economics at Boston University, writes about this in an article for Forbes, explaining why Putin's demands are " The idea that payments in rubles for energy resources will somehow support the ruble, and therefore reduce Russian imports, is meaningless. However, the media still picked it up and replicated it.. Kotlikoff insists: this will not help the ruble.

Take Germany as an example. She bought Russian energy resources for the euro. The transaction assumes that in this process, Moscow will have more euros, and Berlin will have more energy.. But Putin demands that Germany use not the euro, but the ruble. As a result, there is an additional obstacle in the way that Putin forces the German buyer to jump.. Euros will be converted into rubles, which will then be paid for Russian gas. The result of the transaction will be exactly the same: Berlin will have more energy, and Moscow will have the same amount of euros..

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As for the creation of additional German demand for the Russian currency, this will not affect the ruble exchange rate in any way.. Indeed, at the same time, the demand for rubles from Gazprom, the exporter of Russian energy resources, will completely disappear.. Why? Because companies will no longer pay in euros, which he would then have to exchange for rubles. Yes, Gazprom most likely set aside some part of the euro. But now the law requires him to sell 80 percent of his foreign exchange holdings.. As for the remaining 20%, it does not matter where Gazprom will keep them: on its own account or on the account of the Central Bank. The company is fully controlled by the Russian government. So, if Moscow needs euros, then it can take them from Gazprom. Actually, this is what the law on the mandatory sale of 80% of foreign exchange reserves is required for..

Putin's cosmetic requirement to pay in rubles for energy will not bring any economic benefit if Germany or other enemies of Russia agree to comply with it.. But obedience to Putin's dictate, even without economic consequences, is not something NATO countries will agree to.. Just as much as they agreed, at the Kremlin's request, to " It will not happen.

What will happen? NATO countries will not comply with the requirements. And Putin will be forced to stop selling them gas and oil or lose face. That is why he himself will introduce the most important of the possible sanctions against Russia - a ban on the export of Russian energy resources..

In short, Putin will shoot Russia in the head again. His friends need to do better to change the direction he's aiming,"

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As The Economist wrote, NATO has not expanded enough to contain Russia. If the US and Alliance troops were on Ukrainian territory, the responsibility for unleashing a war against NATO would be on the shoulders of Russia. But when the Russian war against Ukraine ends, the Alliance will have a chance to correct this mistake..