Russian journalists fill pro-Kremlin site with anti-war articles

[SteveFoerster]

None of my business. I just support Russia's effort to free us from US occupation...

Oh, how very altruistic of Mr. Putin.

I suppose he also wants nothing in return?

Vlad Putin: Europe's angel of deliverance.

He wants a peaceful Europe willing to cooperate and trade with Russia, free of US interference.

Yes, "willing to cooperate"!

What's wrong with "willing"?...

Because, as we see in Ukraine, it's "willing... or else!"

[neverfail]

He wants a peaceful Europe willing to cooperate and trade with Russia, free of US interference.

I suppose this you Europeans will still want to maintain your present day trade privileges with the United States as well?

https://www.worldstopexports.com/portug ... -partners/

Portugal’s Top Trading Partners (Exports)
Below is a list showcasing 25 of Portugal’s top trading partners, countries that imported the most Portuguese shipments by dollar value during 2021. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Portuguese exports.

Spain: US$20.1 billion (26.7% of total Portuguese exports)
France: $9.9 billion (13.1%)
Germany: $8.3 billion (11%)
United States: $4.2 billion (5.6%)
United Kingdom: $3.9 billion (5.2%)
Italy: $3.4 billion (4.5%)
Netherlands: $2.9 billion (3.9%)
Belgium: $1.9 billion (2.5%)
Angola: $1.12 billion (1.5%)
Poland: $1.08 billion (1.4%)
Morocco: $1 billion (1.4%)
Sweden: $882.2 million (1.2%)
Brazil: $838.8 million (1.1%)
China: $812.0 million (1.1%)
Switzerland: $753.0 million (1%)
Turkey: $730.6 million (1%)
Denmark: $603 million (0.8%)
Czech Republic: $570.8 million (0.8%)
Romania: $520 million (0.7%)
Finland: $512.3 million (0.7%)
Ireland: $493.3 million (0.7%)
Gibraltar: $486.8 million (0.6%)
Slovakia: $455.8 million (0.6%)
Hungary: $447.6 million (0.6%)
Austria: $432.4 million (0

Notice that the Russian Federation does not feature at all among Portugal's 25 top export destinations but as a customer the USA features somewhat more prominently:

Top 10 Import Countries
Country Import USD$
Spain $27,325,131,835
Germany $11,871,965,784
France $8,789,596,900
Italy $4,600,849,118
Netherlands $4,450,508,836
China $3,306,269,757
Belgium $2,723,182,307
United Kingdom $2,353,586,852
United States $1,653,091,518
Russia $1,223,978,231

As a source of imports for Portugal Russia makes it into the top ten (just, as number 10) but even as a source of imports for your country the USA still trumps the Russian Federation in ranking of importance.

With or without EU sanctions on Russia the salient fact is that Russia is not much of a mass market for imported goods (as distinct from Mercedes Benz's and Gucci products for their overprivileged elite). The purchasing power of ordinary Russians is too poor for it to be otherwise. The fact that your country runs a favorable trade balance with the United States in contrast to the adverse one it runs with Russia reflects the greater affluence of the American public and the stronger purchasing power that results.

That broad pattern of trade seems to prevail throughout Europe.

You Europeans would need to be all certifiably mad in order to want to swap your commercial ties with the United States for ties to impoverished Russia.

[Sertorio]

He wants a peaceful Europe willing to cooperate and trade with Russia, free of US interference.

I suppose this you Europeans will still want to maintain your present day trade privileges with the United States as well?

https://www.worldstopexports.com/portug ... -partners/

Portugal’s Top Trading Partners (Exports)
Below is a list showcasing 25 of Portugal’s top trading partners, countries that imported the most Portuguese shipments by dollar value during 2021. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Portuguese exports.

Spain: US$20.1 billion (26.7% of total Portuguese exports)
France: $9.9 billion (13.1%)
Germany: $8.3 billion (11%)
United States: $4.2 billion (5.6%)
United Kingdom: $3.9 billion (5.2%)
Italy: $3.4 billion (4.5%)
Netherlands: $2.9 billion (3.9%)
Belgium: $1.9 billion (2.5%)
Angola: $1.12 billion (1.5%)
Poland: $1.08 billion (1.4%)
Morocco: $1 billion (1.4%)
Sweden: $882.2 million (1.2%)
Brazil: $838.8 million (1.1%)
China: $812.0 million (1.1%)
Switzerland: $753.0 million (1%)
Turkey: $730.6 million (1%)
Denmark: $603 million (0.8%)
Czech Republic: $570.8 million (0.8%)
Romania: $520 million (0.7%)
Finland: $512.3 million (0.7%)
Ireland: $493.3 million (0.7%)
Gibraltar: $486.8 million (0.6%)
Slovakia: $455.8 million (0.6%)
Hungary: $447.6 million (0.6%)
Austria: $432.4 million (0

Notice that the Russian Federation does not feature at all among Portugal's 25 top export destinations but as a customer the USA features somewhat more prominently:

Top 10 Import Countries
Country Import USD$
Spain $27,325,131,835
Germany $11,871,965,784
France $8,789,596,900
Italy $4,600,849,118
Netherlands $4,450,508,836
China $3,306,269,757
Belgium $2,723,182,307
United Kingdom $2,353,586,852
United States $1,653,091,518
Russia $1,223,978,231

As a source of imports for Portugal Russia makes it into the top ten (just, as number 10) but even as a source of imports for your country the USA still trumps the Russian Federation in ranking of importance.

With or without EU sanctions on Russia the salient fact is that Russia is not much of a mass market for imported goods (as distinct from Mercedes Benz's and Gucci products for their overprivileged elite). The purchasing power of ordinary Russians is too poor for it to be otherwise. The fact that your country runs a favorable trade balance with the United States in contrast to the adverse one it runs with Russia reflects the greater affluence of the American public and the stronger purchasing power that results.

That broad pattern of trade seems to prevail throughout Europe.

You Europeans would need to be all certifiably mad in order to want to swap your commercial ties with the United States for ties to impoverished Russia.

I don't mind trading with the US. I mind it trying to tell us what we are allowed to do or not to do in the field of international relations, and I mind the US keeping an occupation force in Europe...

[SteveFoerster]

I don't mind trading with the US.

That's good, because I appreciate both port and vinho verde.

I mind it trying to tell us what we are allowed to do or not to do in the field of international relations, and I mind the US keeping an occupation force in Europe...

You're not occupied; the US is subsidising your defence. But as a US taxpayer I'd be delighted for that to stop.