That must explain why the ruble is up an astonishing 250% since March, and about to hit a five-year high. Western sanctions dramatically boosted the world price of oil and gas -- and Russia is selling record quantities of them to China, India, and Africa.
You honestly can't compare Russia's economic system with the DPRK. There's a system of bribes to be paid, but otherwise it's more free-market than most of Europe. In Ukraine it's even worse -- nearly 50% of all transactions in Ukraine occur on the black market, in order to avoid the vast costs of doing business openly.
That may all be true. Economics is the only way to win and by winning I mean stop Putin. If you think Boris and Natasha are getting that money you are wrong.
They are selling to those countries at very low prices. The EU point is not about price, but not to buy from them at all, no matter what it costs. For China, India, etc.. it's good business because they get cheaper energy and "not their business" (Ukraine). Sadly some countries as China, they just worry about themselves.
