thasfTR

Yes, Ukraine wanted to control gas deliveries to the EU, which merrily proceeded via a Ukrainian transit pipeline until 2025.

The EU is screwed by all energy oligarchies, including transit nations.

Things were fine in Germany under the moderate Merkel government, which emphasized deescalation with Russia until the Cowboys Lindsey Graham, Victoria Nuland and John McCain came along and fanned the flames.

After the illegal and horrible Russian invasion (which was provoked nonetheless) the EU got progressively drawn into the US proxy war. They were criticized for not doing enough in 2022 by the US. In 2025 on the other hand they were criticized for wanting to prolong the war by Trump.

The EU pays the bill, the US reaps its benefits from weakening Russia, which is the entire goal of the slow moving war of attrition. Successes include US dominance in Syria, attempted dominance in Venezuela and possible Greenland.

Ruining the EU's social systems will achieve nothing. This is an energy problem and the US tries to control all choke points of energy delivery to the EU.