Russia, S. Arabia Earn $40b Each From Crude Cuts

Russia and Saudi Arabia have each earned $40 billion from the 2016 deal between OPEC and non-OPEC countries to cut oil output, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund said.

"International efforts to stabilize oil prices have been fruitful, bringing oil prices to above $55 per barrel," Kirill Dmitriev also told Rossiya 24 news channel, RT reported. "We believe that without this deal, prices would be below $35 per barrel now."

Dmitriev praised the 2016 agreement, saying it generated trust between nations and showed that by working together, they can achieve meaningful, serious results.

Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih, who was in Moscow together with other officials accompanying King Salman on his landmark Russian visit earlier this week, also said the deal between OPEC and non-OPEC countries had helped stabilize oil prices. The minister also said cooperation between Riyadh and Moscow had breathed back life into OPEC which found itself unable to swing its production as supply was persistently high in 2014 and global inventories were steadily rising ahead of demand. The deal has been prolonged until April 2018, but its future remains uncertain.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the accord may be extended until the end of 2018.