Group 1 - Russia's energy sector is facing significant challenges due to external environmental changes, leading to a growing fiscal deficit and depletion of national fund reserves [3] - Since 2017, Russia's coal exports to China have doubled, indicating a strengthening of energy cooperation between the two countries [1][3] - The Russian government is increasingly looking towards China for support, recognizing that Western nations cannot be relied upon [5][7] Group 2 - The Russian finance ministry has seen a drastic reduction in ruble reserves, dropping from 10 trillion to below 6 trillion in just two months [3] - The urgency for Russia to implement a "Look East" strategy is emphasized, as time is running out for decisive action [5] - To enhance cooperation with China, Russia may need to offer concessions that align with China's interests [7]