MenuRussian missiles continue pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite President Vladimir Putin’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire on May 9th. Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the suspension of Kazakh crude oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Germany starting May 1st. This pipeline, which became operational in the 1960s, runs from Tatarstan, Russia, and branches through Belarus
Tag Archives: Russia
What Hormuz Whiplash Means For Markets
The world is fighting a two-front energy war. One front runs through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran and the United States are locked in a standoff. My old acquaintance, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol, called this the worst energy shock in history, more severe than the 1970s oil crisis and the Ukraine war combined. The second front runs through
Russia And Iran Are Reshaping Regional Power In Crisis And Confrontation
The U.S./Israel-Iran war is not just a confrontation with the Shia theocratic dictatorship in Iran and the Iranian proxies, like the Houthis and Hezbollah, involved in combat operations. Iran’s patrons and backers, primarily China and Russia, factor heavily in the mix. And there is no greater backer of Iran than Russia. Read the full article here.
Questions Remain About Russian Oil In U.S.–India Trade Deal
President Donald Trump promised to reconsider tariffs on India if New Delhi ceases purchasing Russian crude oil. Targeting Moscow’s second-largest crude oil buyer strikes directly at the Kremlin’s financial underbelly in its war of attrition against Ukraine. While this leverage may prove consequential as peace talks are limping, some in Washington worry that pressure on India is
Uncertainty: Top 5 Russian Energy Trends To Watch In 2026
The Russia-Ukraine war has been brutal to the Russian energy sector. New problems are emerging, and old issues are accumulating as Russia enters 2026. Losing Syria in December of 2024 and Venezuela in January 2026 exposes Russia’s global ambition as an emperor with no clothes. Ukraine’s bloody slog comes at a huge cost. Read the full article
Decline: Top Five 2025 Developments In Russian Energy
Exporting energy has long been recognized as a money-making machine for Moscow. It has not only filled the Kremlin’s war chest but also generated immense personal wealth for Russian leaders and affiliated oligarchs. But in 2025, the picture of Russian energy became much more complicated. The Russian energy sector now functions not only as a strategic asset
A Year After Assad’s Fall, Russia Preserves Syrian Energy Influence
A year after former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s Ba’athist dictatorship collapsed under the blows of Ahmed El-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Organization for the Liberation of the Levant) Islamist militia, the Kremlin, the patron of the deposed regime has not disappeared. Despite expectations, Russia has not withdrawn from Syria, but instead has retrenched itself “under new
Dr. Ariel Cohen on RFE/RL – Why Won’t Trump Meet with Putin?
Dr. Ariel Cohen on i24 News – Syrian President Al Sharaa Meets with Putin in Russia
Russia’s Dramatic Pivot: Gas Pipeline Signals Subordination To China
The spectacular displays at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin were carefully crafted to showcase the evolution of Xi Jinping’s Beijing-centric political bloc which aspires to rival Washington. The U.S. administration is embracing an “America First” agenda and using tariffs as a foreign policy battering ram. Meanwhile, President Trump may be on to