Russia, China Ink Gas Pipeline Deal
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in Beijing, China on Sept. 2. Image credit: Kremlin Press Service/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
This is a major win for Russia, taking the total volume of its supplies to China to 106 billion cubic meters a day. This allows it to make up for the deliveries lost to Europe as a result of their own undoing.
Anti-Russia narrative
In spite of this announcement, it has been conceded that gas prices and construction costs will be negotiated separately. These remain major sticking points in reaching an agreement, so it's not evident that Russia is any further along now than it was previously.
