"that should add some more US $45-48 billion to Russia’s bottom line."

--

If it stays there.

Russia needs it desperately as their economy under Putin continues to hemorrhage.

A disastrous year for Russians and 2017 is promising more of the same.

When the only drivers of your economy are oil, government spending, arms exports and oligarchs, you have to expect regular and deep descents into poverty.

Hopefully the turnip and beet crop will be big next year.