However, in 2011, the Nord Stream pipeline became operational, delivering cheap Russian natural gas and enabled the European high tech manufacturing sector to recover at a rapid pace.
This moves the timeline of Ukraine project to 2004 when Yushchenko clique were propelled to power by US meddling too, and the most significant thing he did (except another round of shock therapy) was stealing gas from Russians, which was also one of the direct reasons for building Nordstream (and resulted in significant losses for Ukraine because Gazprom was selling them gas really cheap and now it ended). Which btw was first planned to go through Poland, but despite this being enormous opportunity, the talks were actually sabotaged by Poland undoubtly also at the wish of USA, so the more expensive variant of building under the sea was chosen ultimately.
This moves the timeline of Ukraine project to 2004 when Yushchenko clique were propelled to power by US meddling too, and the most significant thing he did (except another round of shock therapy) was stealing gas from Russians, which was also one of the direct reasons for building Nordstream (and resulted in significant losses for Ukraine because Gazprom was selling them gas really cheap and now it ended). Which btw was first planned to go through Poland, but despite this being enormous opportunity, the talks were actually sabotaged by Poland undoubtly also at the wish of USA, so the more expensive variant of building under the sea was chosen ultimately.