After a number of years of prosperity, and significant builds in its current account, based to a large extent on oil and gas export monies, Russia is hurting. While still the world's largest producer of oil, Russian production is faltering. In February production fell to 9.72 million barrels per day. But exports totaled a healthy 5.37 million barrels per day. The implication is clear. Russia needs the export dollars. But the dangers may not be as clear, according to Pritchard Capital Partners. If Russia continues to export an increasing percentage of its production it may be adding extra barrels to the export market that might partly cancel the impact of OPEC export cuts, thereby sustaining low oil prices or perhaps driving oil prices down further. Russia will attend the March 15th OPEC meeting as a non-member. It is not clear what agenda the Russians may have with regard to the meeting. They will join a group divided over further cuts. In part that is because not all OPEC members have completed their promised cuts and , in part, because non-OPEC producers have made no efforts to cut supply. Algeria and Kuwait appear to support a further cut in supply while Saudi Arabia wants the organization to comply with the current output ceiling and, thus, opposes further cuts. Whether either of these arguments will sway the Russians remains to be seen. Looked at practically, one would assume that the Russians will not be swayed because the fall in the price of oil has had a severe impact on the Russian economy and curtailing exports would compound the problem.