India, Sept. 27 -- The US President Donald Trump's move to cut off Russia's oil revenue to end the Ukraine war suffered a blow when Russia and China signed a deal on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. The route will substantially hike Russia's gas supply to China. Experts contend the pipeline will cement the bilateral energy ties, and pose a geo-strategic challenge for the US. It can jeopardise the possibility of the US' aim to increase its share in the Chinese energy market from five per cent to 25 per cent. America is the world's largest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and China, the largest importer.

The growing closeness of the two Communist partners has worried Trump during his second term. The latest deal between Russian ...