Saudi Oil Is Seen as Lever to Pry Russian Support From Syria’s...

Saudi Oil Is Seen as Lever to Pry Russian Support From Syria’s Assad
“If oil can serve to bring peace in Syria, I don’t see how Saudi Arabia would back away from trying to reach a deal,” a Saudi diplomat said. An array of diplomatic, intelligence and political officials from the United States and the Middle East spoke on the condition of anonymity to adhere to protocols of diplomacy.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/02/0...ia-away-from-syrias-assad.html?referrer=&_r=0

Russia denies report of Saudi offer over Syria support
Russia has rejected claims that Saudi Arabia had tried to pressure Moscow to abandon its support for Syria in exchange for cooperation in the oil market.

The denial came after the New York Times quoted anonymous Saudi and US diplomatic sources as claiming that Saudi Arabia “has been trying to pressure President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to abandon his support for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, using its dominance of the global oil markets at a time when the Russian government is reeling from the effects of plummeting oil prices.”
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/02/05/396210/Russia-denies-report-of-Saudi-Syria-offer

Sounded like a great story with Saudis dropping production to assist Russia's bottom line.
Where there is smoke there is fire or just a newspaper trying to sell newspapers??
Russia is not particularly happy with NY Times it would seem either way....
“The New York Times distorted information so many times, especially since the Ukrainian crisis started. I wouldn’t advise you taking it as a reliable source. There were no talks if such an exchange."