In addition to stockpiling, do not underestimate the oil thing. In another few years Germany would have become independent on needing oil from them, hence their time to strike was NOW (well, you know, back then I mean).

As it was, Russia extorted people like old grandma and grandpas in northern Germany when they hiked the prices so high they consigned them to just die in the dead of winter unless they paid their life savings or the German government stepped in, handing the cash to Russia in order to keep those old folks alive.

They knew what they were doing - they are greedy and murderous but not all THAT dumb. Plus Russia takes from neighboring states too, especially their citizenry to send to the front lines - every little bit helps!? It also "helps" that they don't mind consigning their own citizens to die if it would save enough money for the oligarchs to justify the loss of those workers - they are not like how we ~~are~~ used to be. But don't worry, dead or not, I'm sure that their "votes" will still be counted, when it comes time to reelect Putin!

Oil and gas is massively profitable. Western nations have crippled that industry resulting in countries like Russia becoming energy giants. The world is consuming new records in consumption this year and let capita, developed nations are nearly a factor more then emerging nations.

The neo-Nazi Pootin believed in RuSSian power so much that he ordered the mafia from the Central Bank of the country to once again artificially “freeze” the ruble from falling so that the RuSSian economy would not collapse, HA. Unfortunately, it was a joke.

I can only say from the point of view of sanctions why.

Yes, many normal companies have left RuSSia (unlike, for example, Nestle, Kellogg's, Mondelez, German Storck, Perfetti Van Melle, Ferrero, P&G and Colgate, which make their products in China, lol), yes, sanctions will put more and more pressure on the RuSSian "economy" over time...

BUT, the sanctions, in my opinion, are “soft” compared to those that the United States, Europe and their partners have imposed on North Korea, Syria and Iran.

I am sure that no one (if we talk about consumer goods at least) from European or American companies can EVEN trade in such third world countries as Iran (with their terrorist government), Syria or North Korea (the last two are also terrorist states). That is, I think, even Nestle, which is hated throughout Reddit, cannot legally trade there, but if you look, every “dirty” and unethical transnational corporation trades with/sells their goods in RuSSia.