[SmokingJoe]

Real question is, does Russia need Western Europe, when they have the gargantuan Chinese, Indian and Asian oil/natural gas markets ?

[marron]

They’ll sell all their oil at a small discount. Which, a small discount against the current market price is still a very good price. Which is why sanctions will never be the kill shot they pretend it will be.

Sanctions are biting them but they have plenty of workarounds.

That’s also why Russia is not to blame for more than a temporary rise in price. The world supply of oil is still getting to market.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Russia doesn't need European markets to sell fossil fuel. It needs to be able to buy high-tech products and parts from Europe.