Because Germany sold its soul for cheap Russian gas. Germany doesn't have the military strength to get answers from anyone. Even Trump got it, on that point. The irony is Putin thought by bringing Germany in-line, Germany would bring the rest of Europe in line. Plenty of miscalculation. As for the U.S. As they say, land of "opportunity" hahahahaha.

Your argument is why I believe we're in WWIII and until the energy issues are sorted out it will only get worse. The U.S. is making the same mistake it made with Iraq with Russia. There will be no government left to run Russia effectively when Putin dies, one way or another. It's going to be ugly, it is ugly, as you so effectively explained.

The U.S. and EU should have called Putin's dare about nukes and pushed Russia out of Ukraine. Putin could have saved face (what can we do against the whole world?). Boy, is it an UGLY situation we have today! Lastly, as you explain, these were problems BEFORE the invasion. Shesh.