“Here’s how it’s been in Ukraine: Cheap natural gas and massive loans from Russia; crooks and oligarchs in both Ukraine and Russia skimming money from the energy sector; and understandably squeamish foreign investors balking at having skin in the game.” These days, if you want to understand an international crisis, you need to examine what it means for the energy industry.

+ PBS Newshour: What you should know about the Ukraine crisis.