Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian companies were seeking to route energy supplies through Vietnam to neighboring countries, following talks with Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary and President To Lam in Moscow, Interfax reported Sept. 9. The two leaders witnessed the signing of a framework agreement under which Petrovietnam and Zarubezhneft would study establishing a strategic crude oil reserve in Vietnam, a part of Moscow's wider energy push that also includes prospective liquified natural gas (LNG) deliveries by Novatek beginning in 2027.