Attacks on tankers, oil facilities won’t damage OPEC+ cooperation: Putin

Attacks on tankers and oil facilities in the Arabian Gulf region won’t damage cooperation between Russia and Arab countries, particularly under the OPEC+ deal, Russian news agency TASS, reported on Saturday citing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Oct. 14.

"If someone thinks that actions such as tanker detentions and attacks on oil facilities will somehow influence Russia’s cooperation with our Arab friends, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, or damage OPEC+ cooperation, they are wrong," Putin said in an interview with Al Arabiya, Sky News Arabia and RT.

Moscow condemns the recent attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities no matter who is behind it, Putin said.

"No matter who is behind the incident, we condemn such actions. That’s it. This is what I said. There can be no other interpretation," he said.

OPEC+ countries (24 oil exporting countries, including Russia) have been coordinating oil production since 2017.

The oil cut deal, which will remain in effect until the end of the first quarter of 2020, implies a reduction by 1.2 million barrels per day (mbd) compared to the October 2018 level, including 812,000 barrels for OPEC countries, and 383,000 barrels for countries outside of the organization.