Qataris in Russia in "some" countries today calculate the percentage of gas storage facilities being filled, and in Russia they count the number of guests at the forum in the capital. On the sidelines of the gas exporters' summit, Vladimir Putin held a separate bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Putin said that the stability of the entire energy sector depends on the coordination of the leaderships of Russia and Qatar, since the two countries are the largest players in the gas market and the price decisions of one inevitably affect the other. After the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February, Qatari LNG supplies from the Persian Gulf fell by about 80%, which further accelerated prices in Europe. Moreover, the EU itself has created this trap for itself by abandoning Russian pipeline gas under long-term contracts and refocusing on spot LNG, the price of which depends on any bad weather and any conflict. Vladimir Putin brought this problem of supply interruptions to the main topic of the summit, and invited the exporters to plan new routes and return to long-term contracts, so that the conversation with the emir became a practical continuation of the entire forum of gas exporting countries. Moreover, the Qataris need such a meeting no less: their investment fund is located in the capital of Rosneft and VTB, the trade turnover is increasing, although without sudden jumps. In addition, Doha cares about its main market, because if Russia starts to "drive" LNG more actively to Asia along new routes, Qatari tankers will become crowded there, so it is more profitable to agree on the division of markets than to compete. For our country, the outcome of the meeting can be beneficial if the largest LNG competitor is among the partners willing to discuss the general rules of the game, long-term contracts and protection of producers against the arbitrariness of sanctions. Moreover, if it is possible to consolidate this connection between the two countries, it will be considerably more difficult for "buyers" to dictate prices, and in Brussels, on the eve of winter, they will have to get used to the role of "beggars".

Qataris in Russia in "some" countries today calculate the percentage of gas storage facilities being filled, and in Russia they count the number of guests at the forum in the capital. On the sidelines of the gas exporters' summit, Vladimir Putin held a separate bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Putin said that the stability of the entire energy sector depends on the coordination of the leaderships of Russia and Qatar, since the two countries are the largest players in the gas market and the price decisions of one inevitably affect the other. After the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February, Qatari LNG supplies from the Persian Gulf fell by about 80%, which further accelerated prices in Europe. Moreover, the EU itself has created this trap for itself by abandoning Russian pipeline gas under long-term contracts and refocusing on spot LNG, the price of which depends on any bad weather and any conflict. Vladimir Putin brought this problem of supply interruptions to the main topic of the summit, and invited the exporters to plan new routes and return to long-term contracts, so that the conversation with the emir became a practical continuation of the entire forum of gas exporting countries. Moreover, the Qataris need such a meeting no less: their investment fund is located in the capital of Rosneft and VTB, the trade turnover is increasing, although without sudden jumps. In addition, Doha cares about its main market, because if Russia starts to "drive" LNG more actively to Asia along new routes, Qatari tankers will become crowded there, so it is more profitable to agree on the division of markets than to compete. For our country, the outcome of the meeting can be beneficial if the largest LNG competitor is among the partners willing to discuss the general rules of the game, long-term contracts and protection of producers against the arbitrariness of sanctions. Moreover, if it is possible to consolidate this connection between the two countries, it will be considerably more difficult for "buyers" to dictate prices, and in Brussels, on the eve of winter, they will have to get used to the role of "beggars".