Trump, like Putin, is now drinking in the "Last Chance Saloon"

Yesterday Ukrainian authorities have opened the doors to the EU as Ukrainian people celebrate ending their decade-long wait for free visa access to the EU on Sunday, with parties and ceremonies. (Euronews : 12/06/2017) (my emphasis)

These celebrations have, however, been marred by the fact that,

"Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 57 times in the past 24 hours, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as killed in action (KIA) and five as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters." (UNIAN : 13 June 2017) (my emphasis) 

Further marring these celebrations is the fact that, as reported by Kenneth Rapoza,

"The European Commission received a mandate on Sunday to go ahead and negotiate with Russia on the construction of the so-called Nord Stream 2 pipeline through the Baltic Sea" (Forbes : Jun 12, 2017) (my emphasis)

This mandate, which clears a significant hurdle for a project that has faced strong resistance from many EU member states, was celebrated by Gazprom's Gehardt Schroeder, former chancellor of Germany, and Alexei Miller (left).

The so-called Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be 50% funded by  Anglo-Dutch group Royal Dutch Shell, Austria’s OMV, France’s Engie and Germany’s Uniper and Wintershall, with each EU company contributing €950m EACH to the project.  (cf: Henry Foy and Rochelle Toplensky: Financial Times : April 24, 2017) (my emphasis) 

 As reported by Gabriela Baczynska (right),

"Opponents of the pipeline also note that it would bypass Ukraine, thereby harming the interests of the pro-Western government in Kiev at a time when Russia remains under EU sanctions over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine"  (Reuters : Thu Jun 8, 2017) (my emphasis)

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is scheduled to be completed in 2019 so, whilst Gehardt Schroeder and Alexei Miller may now be celebrating this EU mandate for a 'go-ahead' in negotiations, it would be wise for them to remember, as reported by Jude Clemente (left),

" ...[That the US] will now be implementing more pro-oil and pro-natural gas policies might be the biggest understatement you will hear this year. Think about it: former Texas governor Rick Perry is head of the U.S. Department of Energy and former ExxonMobil CEO is head of the U.S. Department of State.

Thus, the U.S. could rival Russia as the world's largest oil and gas exporting machine." (Forbes : Feb 25, 2017)  (my emphasis)

Even as the evidence against Donald Trump obstructing justice begins to mount, and impeachment begins to beckon, nonetheless a prospective US President Mike Pence will not deviate from a central plank in Trump's election campaign viz., "... to roll back federal regulations to help U.S. oil and natural gas and to open up new areas for development" (ibid Jude Clemente)

Trump, like Putin, is now drinking in the "Last Chance Saloon".

It is now being reported by Bryan Logan that,

"President Donald Trump may consider firing Robert Mueller (left), the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation.

"He's weighing that option," said Chris Ruddy, Newsmax CEO and friend of Trump on PBS NewsHour Monday evening. "I personally think it would be a very significant mistake – even though I don't think there's a justification ... for a special counsel in this case," Ruddy said" (UK Business Insider : Jun. 13, 2017) (my emphasis)

Not only is his Senior Advisor daughter, Ivanka Trump, now also being forced to come to his aid,
 

he is also now, just like a Mafia Don, desperately trying to project the the American public at large that his cabinet 'admires' him.

 

But try as he may Trump, like Putin, simply cannot escape from their entanglement by the scarlet thread of Maidan.

As each new day brings forth yet more revelations about Putin's direct hand in Trump's election to the White House, so too is revealed the very foundation of Putin's interference in the 2016 US Presidential elections viz. the lifting of US sanctions brought about by his illegal annexation of Ukrainian Crimea, and his ongoing war with Ukraine in the Donbas.

So whilst Putin and his Kremlin 'siloviki' may be congratulating themselves on the success of their first step towards constructing the so-called Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a pipeline that will directly affect Ukraine negatively, nonetheless Trump's impeachment and Mike Pence's donning of the mantle of US president will not stop the US from potentially becoming the world's largest oil and gas exporting machine.

Neither will Putin get his lifting of US sanctions 'payback' from Trump, as Trump's impeachement draws ever closer.

Meanwhile, the EU has opened up its visa-free doors to Ukrainians.

(to be continued)