Staff Reports
The revelation that Joe Biden, while pretending to stand firm against Russian aggression, may have played an active role in easing the flow of Moscow’s gas into Ukraine is straight out of a political thriller—one lacking all the excitement and full of the kind of backroom deals that would make even a used car salesman cringe. Reports have emerged revealing that Biden used a private email account, amusingly camouflaged under the alias [email protected], to correspond with various officials about gas supply negotiations in 2014. At this time, his son Hunter was knee-deep in deals with a Ukrainian energy firm, Burisma, raising eyebrows about the uncanny timing of these communications.
The recent release of these emails by the National Archives, albeit mostly redacted, hints at a clear, albeit secretive, link between Biden’s machinations and the fate of gas supplies during a critical moment when Ukraine was on the brink of winter. While Biden was officially shaking his fist at Russia and urging Ukraine to reduce its energy dependency, he was stealthily orchestrating the very arrangement he later praised Angela Merkel for publicly facilitating. It’s ironic, if not outright hilarious, that the Biden administration was pretending to take a tough stance while quietly facilitating the re-opening of Russian gas supplies.
Underneath all the political bluster, the emails paint a picture of a man who thrives on duplicity. Despite public declarations condemning Russia’s actions following its annexation of Crimea, Biden’s secret dealings indicated a much more amenable posture towards Moscow. Proving that actions often speak louder than words, Biden’s email indicated that Germany’s then-Chancellor Merkel had previously placed a direct call to Putin. Biden’s “crucial” involvement was more about keeping the lights on for Ukraine than standing up to the Russians, who had already invaded and annexed territory.
Even more comically absurd is the irony of Hunter Biden’s predicament. A private email surfaced showing Hunter explaining to a business partner that a halt in Russian gas exports could crush Burisma, the company that was fortifying his wallet. Just as his father was vowing to stand against Russian aggression, Hunter was pleading that they needed those Russian gas flows to keep their business thriving. Can one family play both sides of a geopolitical chessboard any more clumsily? It seems they can.
To cap off the ridiculousness, Biden’s clumsy attempts to secure a favorable gas deal for Ukraine laid bare the long history of his conflicting rhetoric and actions. He has often oscillated between tough talk and behind-the-scenes maneuvers that ultimately undermine the very goals he claims to support. As the U.S. scrambled to address the gas supply crisis, Obama’s remarks about the impossibility of cutting off Russian energy entirely now seem prophetic—but unfortunately for Ukraine, it also underscores Biden’s baffling management of the situation.
In a nutshell, the contrast between Biden’s public persona and private dealings during this period leads to more questions than answers. As investigations linger in the backdrop, the need for transparency grows ever more pressing. One can only wonder what other secrets the dim-lit corners of email accounts hold and what other explosive revelations lie in wait as the quest for energy independence continues for Ukraine, and the questions around the Biden family’s dealings gain even more momentum.
