It would be better for Russia if oil prices were higher than $46 a barrel, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. In an interview with Russian TV channel Rossiya, Putin talked about the Russian economy and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on it and on oil prices. Commenting on the fact that Brent Crude prices have returned to $46 a barrel, Putin said, “it would be better if the price were a bit higher,” according to the interview posted on the Kremlin’s website . The higher the price of oil, the higher Russia’s budgetary reserves are, creating an additional cushion for the budget to finance its expenses, including social welfare, Putin said. At the beginning of the oil price crisis, caused – among other things – by the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia – Russia’s Finance Ministry said that Moscow could live with $25 […]