Wrong.
That’s why Russia blinked first, and the Saudi oil minister rebuffed Russia’s olive branch.
Wrong again.
The Russians are in a much stronger economic position than they were in 2016 and don't have a country full of inbred militant jihadists to take care of.
MbS better watch his back or his royal head will roll.
“That’s why Russia blinked first, and the Saudi oil minister rebuffed Russia’s olive branch.”
‘Wrong again.’
That (the Saudi rebuff to Russia’s hat-in-hand olive branch) is exactly what happened yesterday. The Russian economy is heavily dependent on its oil industry for jobs, foreign currency reserves, and the overall standard of living. The only other major export industry is military hardware, which is why the Kremlin is working hard to shore up old client states and develop new ones. Russia also has serious long-term demographic problems, causing Putin to renege on his long-standing promise (made in 2005) never to raise the retirement age.