There is only ONE thing that a country can do with an overabundance of a commodity like oil and/or gas, and that is to sell it! If they then use the money to improve the life of their citizens, it's a good thing.
I don't see a Communist boogyman behind every move that Putin makes. I think he's doing a good job of reversing over 70 years of failed Communist dogma, and I wish him well.
And I also think that he'd rather sell Russian oil to America than China..............FRegards