With Russian forces meeting stronger resistance from Ukraine than expected, we look at recent anti-war protests in Russia, and possible motives driving Putin's decision to invade the country.
This week, the United States and other countries make the difficult move toward banning oil imported from Russia, a decision which leaves open both the necessity for reliance on the Middle East, but also the prospect of returning to oil production at home. Elsewhere, with the war in Ukraine leaving the Russian military several thousand fewer in numbers, some officials are now weighing the possibility that Russia's invasion may not have its intended result... but more importantly, what are the possible factors driving Putin's choice in proceeding with the now very costly move? We explore all these questions, and much more, this week on Middle Theory.
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SHOW NOTES
* OIL: Oil Traders Bet Prices Will Pass $200 a Barrel This Month
* US crude oil briefly tops $130 a barrel, 13-year high on possible Western ban of Russian oil
* MUSK: Elon Musk calls for more oil and gas production 'immediately' amid Russian invasion
* NUKES: Blinken says Ukraine sanctions on Russia not linked with Iran nuclear talks
* CONCERNS: 'Grave concern' as Ukraine Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under Russian orders
* Russian forces switch off mobile networks and internet at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, IAEA says
* LOSERS: Russian forces are 'decimated' says top UK general
* LOSSES: Russia has lost 1,000 troops-a-day to ferocious Ukrainians in big blow to Putin
* PROTESTS: