"Probably, the easiest way to limit Russian income would be to allow it to trade with China and only with China, hoping that the Chinese monopsony will drive the price close to the marginal cost of production and leave Russia with almost no resource rent. In this case, the hit on the Western buyers would also be lower as China would not compete for the supplies from the rest of the world ex Russia."
Sergey, expect accusations of being a CCP agent ;)
"The long-standing Saudi-American special relationship has been under pressure, there was less economic interdependency since the US has become an oil-exporting nation, and politically there were growing tensions since Khashoggi affair."
There are also massive lawsuits connecting Saudi state to 9/11
"Probably, the easiest way to limit Russian income would be to allow it to trade with China and only with China, hoping that the Chinese monopsony will drive the price close to the marginal cost of production and leave Russia with almost no resource rent. In this case, the hit on the Western buyers would also be lower as China would not compete for the supplies from the rest of the world ex Russia."
Sergey, expect accusations of being a CCP agent ;)
"The only area, where Russia can materially hurt the West economically is the energy trade"
Well, there is more. Cyber attacks are a big concern. Another is old Soviet tradition of stirring trouble in third countries.
"The long-standing Saudi-American special relationship has been under pressure, there was less economic interdependency since the US has become an oil-exporting nation, and politically there were growing tensions since Khashoggi affair."
There are also massive lawsuits connecting Saudi state to 9/11
Sergey, thank you for the illuminating long read!