[MDspinboyredux]

There is NOTHING he can do about it.

There's a LOT he can do about it. Oil prices are set on perceived supply and a whole lot of speculation.

All Russia has to do is to cause unrest in oil producing/supplying areas to spike prices.

Remember when Ukraine was contemplating closer ties to the West? He shut off gas supplies heading into that region. Result? Ukraine's government collapsed and called for new elections.

All Putin has to do is cause trouble in the Middle East. Rattle some sabres. Maybe slap Georgia around again (it has the only oil pipeline heading into Europe NOT originating from Russia). If speculators think that supply is in danger, the price goes up. Simple as that.

Believe me, there is a lot he CAN do.

[WellyP]

The problem with that is, Russia badly needs inward investment in it’s oil fields as their production is declining. Foreign investment in Russia has tanked since Pootie’s little Georgian experiment! Below is a very well written article on the issue.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/96131-putin-s-policies-drive-foreign-investment-from-russia

While U.S. financial turmoil has seeped into virtually every global market, Russia has been devastated, as the country’s largest stock exchanges, the MICEX and RTS, have suffered their biggest losses since the 1998 financial crisis. However, Moscow only has itself to blame after heavy-handed economic, political, and military tactics scared away the foreign investments it didn’t oust directly.

[VaBthang4]

Oi....There is NOTHING he can do about it. If there were...he wouldnt be whining about needing to do something.