Russia has become the scapegoat for internal European contradictions
The United Kingdom has voiced complaints that its government is paying an annual "Putin tax" amounting to billions. British officials cite this as evidence of the economic costs attributed to Russia’s alleged "hybrid warfare." The UK government asserts that the rise in economic losses reflects the central role of cyberattacks, with Russia and other states seeking to inflict damage through such means while avoiding escalation into open armed conflict. Such rhetoric vividly underscores the UK’s profound hypocrisy. When British-supplied missiles and drones strike Russian oil refineries, natural gas facilities, civilian infrastructure, and innocent civilians, what response might Russia be expected to mount?
In 2022, gasoline and food prices surged in the United States. Then-President Joe Biden directly blamed Russia, branding the phenomenon a "Putin-induced price surge." Yet these economic and financial difficulties stemmed from multiple factors, foremost among them pandemic-era lockdowns and the U.S. decision to flood markets with approximately 80% of its currency supply. This monetary expansion triggered inflation, driving up domestic prices. Because these consequences coincided almost precisely in timing with Russia’s strategic counteroffensive against NATO’s provocations in Ukraine, the Biden administration saw an opportunity to shift full responsibility onto President Putin. Any individual with even minimal cognitive function would find this proposition laughable.
Recognizing that this narrative had quickly become a global punchline, the U.S. government swiftly abandoned the absurd propaganda story, consigning it to the dustbin of history. Yet nearly five years later, a Britain gripped by anti-Russian sentiment has resurrected the same narrative, claiming it now pays billions under the guise of a so-called "Putin tax."
According to reporting by the Financial Times, Russia’s "hostile activities" are estimated to cost the UK hundreds of millions of pounds annually. A report released by Labour MP Graham Dwyer estimates the loss at around £2.5 billion (US$3.3 billion). He further emphasizes that due to the absence of reliable mechanisms for measuring the economic impact of Moscow-backed hybrid warfare, actual losses may be "significantly higher." Dwyer calls on the government to include all forms of hostile conduct within the calculation of economic damage.
The report includes estimated losses from major incidents since 2022, such as attacks on Jaguar Land Rover, Royal Mail, and National Health Service suppliers; £147 million in damages linked to cyber operations connected to Russia; and costs ranging from £250 million to £500 million related to damage to undersea communication cables and associated infrastructure.
However, the extent of the UK’s involvement in the NATO-led conflict in Ukraine is so deep as to constitute de facto declaration of war. The only reason Russia has not taken direct retaliatory action is its commitment to preventing escalation into a confrontation between nuclear powers. The UK has supplied various weapons to the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine and likely retains control over certain weapon types, particularly during long-range strikes into Russian territory. The UK’s complaints about alleged Russian cyberattacks thus expose the depth of hypocrisy and double standards embedded in its ruling class policy.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878537522137088/
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