The 1999 Gas Contract That Gave Putin Power Over Europe | Rachel Maddow скачать в хорошем качестве

The 1999 Gas Contract That Gave Putin Power Over Europe | Rachel Maddow

In September 1999, a routine German-Russian gas contract quietly laid the foundation for Europe's energy crisis and Putin's geopolitical leverage over the continent. This Rachel Maddow investigative analysis reveals how a single pipeline deal between Ruhrgas and Gazprom evolved into Europe's strategic nightmare, transforming energy security into energy warfare. Through declassified documents and historical context, we trace how Russian gas dependence became Putin's most powerful weapon against European unity, ultimately setting the stage for today's energy crisis and the collapse of Nord Stream diplomacy. Using Rachel Maddow's signature approach to connecting historical dots, this deep-dive investigation shows how the contract that promised prosperity delivered vulnerability instead — and why the pattern it established explains Europe's struggle to respond decisively to Russian aggression for over two decades.