From the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia to Rosneft's pullout from Venezuela, the geopolitics of energy is rapidly changing in the era of COVID-19. Moscow has long used energy as a geopolitical tool. But with prices cratering amid the coronavirus crisis and with Russia and OPEC at loggerheads following the collapse of a three-year-old agreement on production levels, Moscow's ability to use energy to reward friends and punish adversaries appears weakened. But how much and for how long?

CEPA held a discussion to consider: the impact Russia’s oil price war is having on the West, Russia’s goal in starting a costly dispute in the middle of a crisis, and the long term implications of Russia’s moves for the energy sector.