Wikinews:Briefs/February 5, 2015/2
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Oil dispute in Russia
edit
Image: Trevor MacInnis.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, may be considering changing his alliance with Syrian oil distributors to ease economic woes. Saudi Arabia has offered Putin a deal if he stops supporting Bashar Assad, the president of Syria. If Putin creates an alliance with Saudi Arabia, the production of oil will slow to increase prices, helping the economic state of Russia.
However, the Russian president has stated many times that he will not give in to pressure form exterior sources, even during financial hardship. Putin is still showing signs of support towards Assad and there may be no change in alliances. Only time will show where Russia's loyalties lie.
Sources
edit- Mark Mazzetti, Eric Schmitt and David D. Kirkpatrick. "Saudi Oil Is Seen as Lever to Pry Russian Support From Syria’s Assad" — NY Times, February 3, 2015
- Nikolay Kozhanov. "Russia and Saudi Arabia: Friends or Foes?" — Carnegie Moscow Center, February 3, 2015