With Otto von Bismarck's famous quote likely ringing in his ears, Saudi King Salman welcomed Russia's President Putin this week. Oil, OPEC, and cooperation were high on the agenda, but will Putin's visit to the Middle East prove more successful than the Saudi orchestra's attempt at the Russian national anthem that greeted him? Three self-confessed Platts Russophiles – Joel Hanley, Rosemary Griffin and Thomas Washington – discuss what Putin's visit to Saudi Arabia could mean at home and abroad.
Also in this edition, Tamara Sleiman and Eklavya Gupte discuss the rise in popularity of heavy sweet crude, a barrel in much demand as IMO 2020 approaches.
Check Platts Periodic Table of Oil for a better understanding of crude grades and varieties.