Russia secures new gas pipeline deal with China while the West avoids supplies

Russia and China solidified a strategic energy alliance by signing a memorandum for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, redirecting Russian gas exports from Western markets. Gazprom’s Miller confirmed the deal, following Putin and Xi’s Beijing talks, to supply 50 billion cubic meters annually for 30 years.

The pipeline, transiting West Siberia’s reserves through Mongolia to China, deepens Gazprom-CNPC ties. “A memorandum of understanding had been signed on the construction of the new gas pipeline,” Miller told Interfax. Pricing remains unresolved, hinting at China’s negotiating leverage.

Western sanctions, including the EU’s 2027 Russian gas import ban and the U.S.’s 2022 fossil fuel embargo, slashed Russia’s European exports, pushing Putin to pivot to Beijing. This deal, delayed by pricing disputes, signals a defiant shift in global energy dynamics, challenging Western influence.