China and Russia have greenlit a new cross-border natural gas pipeline in a major win for Russian President Vladimir Putin , though questions about who pays what and at what price remain unresolved.

Once completed, the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline could pump 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year into China—about 61 percent more than the 31 bcm delivered by the original Power of Siberia line in 2024. The new route would run through Mongolia from western Siberia's Yamal fields.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Russia has turned to China to offset collapsing European gas sales, which have dropped by more than 70 percent since 2021. The European Union plans to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports

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