Do you think , Russia may cut off oil flow to the West?

Question

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/08/29/cnrussia129.xml

Thanks in advance...

Answer 1

Ray we told George trying to build a pipeline through Afghanistan was a bad idea but since when has that stopped anybody?

Answer 2

Possibly  but they need the income    

Answer 3

Where do you think Russia has been getting it's money for it's economy. If they did Russia's economy would collapse in about two weeks.

Answer 4

The U S of A told old Europe it was not a good idea to build the pipe line They told us to go pound sand

I find it amusing there is talk on here about how the sanctions would hurt them and yet if you don't approve of them ''they well not work''

Just as in Iraq the sanction are only ''hurting the common people ''after the invasion ''the sanction were working''

Answer 5

Actually it's highly unlikely as Russia could not survive if sanctions were imposed by the EU as it relies heavily on the West for economic survival. I think it's more likely that they will enter into a narrative with the West than cut off the oil flow as they will have very few countries  to then buy their oil if they do.

Answer 6

Maybe, Russia behave just like a child when they don't let him play.

Answer 7

Its a possibility. the only reason that the russians would cut off oil supplies. 1 in limited stages in shock tactics. to get their point across.

2 to drain european countries of fuel reserves which would last approx 6 weeks after which would be a massive assault on europe by land forces.but that is a last resort financially it would be a disaster as most of their exports are to europe.and they depend on europe to much.

in the case of gas the irish are developing gas and oil fields on the corrib banks off the mayo coast which will have a pipeline to england as a backup. and this would be rushed through in any emergency.

Answer 8

Yes!

Answer 9

Don't worry, if you're British, we get most of ours from Norway - s***w Russia.

If you're french or german though, then yes i would be worried. the russians did it to the Ukraine, they could do it again.  

Answer 10

Probably!

Answer 11

no they like having money. they may restrict it just to p**s people off but wont cut it off completely

Answer 12

Why Not - After all, World War 3 would take all of our minds of the worsening Economy.  

Answer 13

No but, they would like too.

At the moment Russia's economy is dependant on oil revenues from the West. However Russia is building a pipeline to China. Once that is constructed then Russia will be less dependant on Western oil incomes and therefore and therefore able to flex it's muscle over the West like it did to the Ukraine.

However Russia is not the only country supplying oil to the West and hence why the Russians are not so keen on Georgia. Competition does not bode well for the Russian dominance.