Russia is saying you can't have your cake and eat it. If you're in the Russian sphere of influence, you get cheap energy. If you aren't, you don't.

We are about to move into a new phase when Russian state-controlled energy companies are opened for investment with cooperative foreign firms. It makes sense to have someone with international experience ? either corporate or political ? leading that process at the head of those companies.

Russia is unable to increase its exports without cheap gas from Central Asia to compensate for a deficit on its domestic market.

Russia is risking losing credibility as a reliable energy supplier by cutting off supplies to an external customer on the same day it takes over as leader of the G-8.

Persecution will continue as the influence of your sphere of life

An artist's sphere of influence is the world