Alexander Novak. Photographer: Christian Marquardt/Getty Images Russia ready to discuss freeze if other nations raise issue Novak may meet Saudi oil minister in Algiers next month Russia sees no need for renewing discussion of an oil-output freeze at current crude prices, while leaving open the possibility for the future, Energy Minister Alexander Novak told journalists in Moscow Monday. “A basis for this has yet to develop, considering prices are still at more or less normal levels,” Novak said. “If prices will fall then that necessity will most likely arise.” Russia, Saudi Arabia and other major oil exporters met in Doha in April in a bid to stabilize global markets by putting caps on output. The effort collapsed as Saudi Arabia demanded that rival Iran join the pact. At the time, Iran had ruled out any limits as it ramped up production after the lifting of international sanctions. The Russian […]