The OPEC+ pact is hurting the Russian economy, potentially giving President Vladimir Putin a reason not to agree on an extension of the deal. While higher crude prices can bring the Kremlin additional revenue, production cuts are weighing on one of the country's biggest industries. As the Russian leader decides whether to prolong the curbs into the second half, he may have to weigh his desire for faster economic growth against the benefits of his alliance with Saudi Arabia. “The OPEC+ deal was one of the factors behind slower economic growth in Russia in the first quarter,” said Kirill Tremasov, a former economy ... (full story)