Ukraine's Crimea is now becoming an albatross around Putin's neck.

The "Mueller Report", that investigated possible collusion between Trump and Putin during the 2016 US Presidential elections has, according to Trump appointee, William Barr, exonerated Trump and, by implication, Putin.

The victory dance of Trump and Putin may, however, be rather short lived.

As the old saying goes, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings". In other words, " ... one should not presume to know the outcome of an investigation which is still in progress."

It now transpires that, as reported by Rachel Maddow (link: 1 and 2), Mueller's Special Council still has ongoing investigations that may yet prove rather problematic for Trump. (MSNBC : 27 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

Similarly, William Barr's unprecedented conclusion that Trump did not "obstruct justice" has hit the judicial rails, and may be on the verge of 'exploding in his face'. (MSNBC: 27 March, 2019)

Barr may yet be " ... hoist by his own petard ..." meaning that the bomb-maker i.e exonerating Trump from obstructing justice, may yet be blown up by his own bomb.

MSNBC: 27 March, 2019 (position 15:28)

And whilst Putin may still be rubbing his hands together in glee at Barr's exoneration of himself and Trump, Mike Pompeo, Trump's Secretary of State, has recently stated that,

"U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday (27 March, 2019 position: 4:20:15) he hoped to announce with NATO allies visiting Washington next week additional steps to push back on Russia over its aggression in Ukraine.

 “Next week I am hopeful ... I will be able to announce another series of actions that we will jointly take together,” Pompeo told a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the State Department's budget request for 2020, according to Reuters. He also acknowledged that Washington could have done more to address Moscow’s activity in Ukraine." (UNIAN : 27 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

  Pompeo address to Congress (27 March, 2019)

Pompeo's statements are not all that should concern Putin.

As reported by Shadia Nasralla (left),

"Oil prices were down on Thursday, extending losses into a second consecutive session following a surprise rise in U.S. crude inventories.
...
U.S. crude inventories rose last week by 2.8 million barrels, compared with analysts’ expectations for a decrease of 1.2 million barrels, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.

Demand concerns on the back of economic jitters linked to the U.S.-Chinese trade war have also capped prices. " (Reuters : 28 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

Adding to which,

"Denmark has decided not to authorize the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in its exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea. "Gazprom saw another refusal from Denmark on the Nord Stream 2 route," Naftogaz press service reported via Twitter." (Unian : 27 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

That the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been spiked by Denmark simply adds to Russia's continual descend into a critical economic position, a situation against which Putin is defenseless.

As Paul Goble (left) reports,

"Preparing for even greater isolation, Russian powers that be are “now economizing on almost everything and particularly on programs” that are for ordinary Russians, Sergey Shelin (right) says. But they are not reducing spending on security because that is about self-defense or on giant projects, the easiest way to give money to their rich allies." (Window on Eurasia : 26 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

This call by Putin for yet more belt-tightening by the Russian people comes against the backdrop, as Roman Goncharenko (right) writes, that,

"Today, a sense of disappointment and frustration pervades the country [Russia]. And the Kremlin has not yet found a way of boosting approval ratings.
...
There is no more public debate over whether Crimea truly belongs to Ukraine or Russia. Even though back in 2014 most Russians did not really question the annexation of the peninsula, either. Konstantin Gaase says that now, "even the Russian opposition has stopped talking about Crimea." (DW : 15 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

It is therefor no wonder that, as Marc Bennetts reports,

" Putin, rap and Night Wolves: Russia marks 5 years in Crimea. No shortage of flag-waving as Russian president pays a visit, but no celebrations in Moscow this year.
...
[A]nalysts suggest that a rising resentment of the economic costs of the annexation of [Ukraine's] Crimea, as well as of Russia’s military campaign in Syria, is more likely to be behind the Kremlin’s reluctance to hold a triumphant rally near Red Square this year.
......
“During the last year, sociologists began to hear in focus groups that Crimea has cost us too much, and that we generally spend too much on foreign military adventures,” said Yekaterina Schulmann" (Politico : 20 March, 2019) (my emphasis)

Ukraine's Crimea is now becoming an albatross around Putin's neck.
  

(to be continued)