Jackie Northam

Facing sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is looking further afield to find customers for its crude oil. It is having to rely on so-called "shadow fleets" to do so.

Despite unprecedented sanctions, Russia's economy is still functioning and it's still attacking Ukraine. That's led to questions about whether the sanctions are effective.

The international community has slapped an unprecedented number of sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine. What impact have they had? (Story aired on Weekend Edition Saturday on De. 17, 2022.)

The international community has slapped an unprecedented number of sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine. What impact have they had?

Saudi Arabia hosts Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a regional summit that echoes the trip President Biden made there in July and highlights the competition for influence in the Gulf.

The restrictions come a day after the members of OPEC Plus — which includes Russia — met and agreed to maintain current oil production targets while they wait and see the effect of the sanctions.

The OPEC Plus group of oil producers, which includes Russia, meets Sunday on the eve of new Western efforts to curb Russia's oil revenues.

Plans take effect next week that would ban most Russian oil imports from Europe and put a price cap on the oil going elsewhere. But Russia could still make money off oil to fund its war in Ukraine.

The U.S. and the European Union are taking aim again at Russia's oil profits, which it uses to fund the war in Ukraine. New rules start next week.

The U.S. and its allies will try two new tactics to cut Russia's profits: Europe will ban Russian crude imports and the G7 will impose a price cap on the oil Russia sells to other parts of the world.

The three-year-old French bulldog competed against some 1,500 dogs representing 200+ breeds and varieties of the American Kennel Club. "He fits the standard perfectly," said his handler, Perry Payson.

Before the war in Ukraine, Europe was Russia's largest natural gas customer. Now, Russia is using energy as a weapon. There's concern this new front in the war will spread to the rest of the world.

The US and Saudi Arabia usually try to keep their differences behind closed doors. But they broke out into the open this week over oil supplies and Ukraine.

The decision by the OPEC+ group of oil producers, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, has created a breach in U.S.-Saudi relations, with members of Congress calling to retaliate.

The cuts in oil production by OPEC Plus could signal a rift between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. — or just an effort by the oil producers to make more money.

As oil producers in the OPEC Plus alliance meet Wednesday, they'll discuss cutting supplies. That could lead to higher gas prices and hints at new political challenges for the White House.

The 2 million bpd cut in oil production was backed by Saudi Arabia and could benefit Russia. The OPEC+ meeting took place as much of the world is battling soaring energy costs and rising inflation.

Some European leaders say the Nord Stream pipeline leaks are deliberate. There's growing concern about what it could mean for security at oil and gas installations around Europe.

One of the effects of the war in Ukraine is a global shortage of fertilizer. Food supplies could be threatened if more fertilizer doesn't get to the world market.

Russia has cut off natural gas for much of Europe to punish it for its support of Ukraine. But Putin may have miscalculated. Europe has been preparing to survive winter without Russian gas.