Russia secures Turkmenistan gas exports until 2028

Russia's attempts to re-exert its dominance over the former republics of the Soviet Union have, for the most part, been unsuccessful. However, a deal struck with Ukraine, on 26 July, establishing a new company to take over the purchasing and transporting of Turkmenistani gas to Ukraine has given Moscow control over gas flows out of the country for the foreseeable future. Foreign firms have been left to fight over Turkmenistan's more modest oil resources. NJ Watson reports