Trump and Putin Are All Talk on Oil Price Plunge
No amount of bullying or half-hearted diplomacy can stop the plunge in oil demand — and prices — brought on by coronavirus lockdowns worldwide.
The divide is still too wide.
Photographer: Heikko Saukkomaa/AFP via Getty Images
Well there’s a surprise. During a telephone conversation on Monday, Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin “agreed on the importance of stability in global energy markets.” However, it’s very unlikely either will go beyond extolling stability and waiting for (or pressuring) somebody else to do something about it.
Trump, speaking at the White House Tuesday, talked of many meetings that are going to put this all right. He said Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are “going to get together and we’re all going to get together and we’re going to see what we can do.” Then he added that “the two countries are discussing it. And I am joining at the appropriate time, if need be.”