Map of Europe showing that Poland and Ukraine can cut the flow of oil and natural gas from Russia to western Europe:
http://geology.com/world/europe-map.gif
Actually, things are more complex (and interesting). In the north, Russia has an underwater gas pipeline connecting directly to Germany (along the bottom of the Baltic Sea).
In the south, Russia has an underwater pipeline connecting with Turkey and a proposed underwater pipeline connecting with Bulgaria (along the bottom of the Black Sea).
Russia is developing huge oil and natural fields in the Arctic Ocean, and connecting these with major markets in the west and possibly also with China and India.
BOTTOM LINE: Russia has tremendous interests in the global economy. I think this is why Trump and Tillerson believe we can do business with Russia.
However, developing our oil and natural gas supplies so as to provide an alternate supply to Europe and, in particular, an alternate supply to Poland and Ukraine remains vitally important if we are to make a mutually-advtantageous deal with them.
It is also important to maintain the flow of energy from Azerbaijan through Georgia to the west.
