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Russian oligarchs have become unpalatable, toxic. The social contract that existed between them and countries in the Western world that took / launder their money has been upended due to Vladimir Putin's Ukranian invasion. It wasn't always like that. There was a time when Roman Abramovich showed up in London with his loot and every last member of every establishment celebrated his business prowess, but above all else his largesse. He bought mansions, yachts, a very famous football club, and plenty of access. No one, nowhere, ever questioned origin of his wealth, and word got out.

The Ukraine invasion and meeting between President Biden's officials and Nicolas Maduro in Caracas has awoken PDVSA experts. These days, every "Venezuela energy sector expert" talking to the media is making unsustainable remarks about its alleged capacity to fill the gap that sanctions on Russia's energy will create in the market. They talk about "spare capacity... ability to increase production to 600,000 barrels a day rapidly... release of millions of barrels held in the strategic reserve... Venezuela taking Russia's place in U.S.

U.S. government officials Juan Gonzalez, Jimmy Story and Roger Carstens officially traveled to Venezuela over the weekend for talks with Nicolas Maduro. Carstens had already been to Caracas in early December to discuss the CITGO 6. People seem surprised by what they perceive as a change of heart at the White House, ignoring that Carsten and Bill Richardson had already visited Maduro (unofficially).