Russia is pushing ahead with a massive new gas pipeline to China, capable of transporting 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually.
As Western nations distance themselves, Russia is pivoting east, advancing plans for this major project amid rising sanctions.
The pipeline, known as Soyuz Vostok or Power of Siberia 2, will stretch 598 miles through Mongolia, reinforcing Russia’s energy shift toward Asia.
This move comes after Europe's sharp reduction of Russian energy imports following the invasion of Ukraine, prompting Gazprom — Russia’s energy giant — to seek new markets for its vast gas supplies.
With 1.42-meter-wide pipes and five key compressor stations, the project aims to significantly strengthen the energy partnership between Moscow and Beijing.
It builds on a landmark 30-year deal signed in 2014 that led to the original Power of Siberia pipeline, completed in 2019.
If completed, Power of Siberia 2 would allow Russia to reroute gas once bound for Europe directly to China, reducing its reliance on Western markets and tightening strategic ties with the world's fastest-growing energy consumer.