In other words, what the U.S. and the E.U. have got themselves up to in Ukraine isn't so much a demented, madhouse mirror set of policies built on bluster and gross deceit as it is a high-powered burglary.

Ukraine should craft attractive terms to facilitate foreign investment, especially of those technologically-advanced energy companies capable of locating and developing whatever energy assets Ukraine does enjoy. But what does foreign ownership of 49% of the nation's functioning gas transport system have to do with energy exploration and development?