Russia will remain in the OPEC+ alliance following the abrupt exit of UAE on May 1, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. The move comes amid a deep supply crunch that the Russian official said makes a price war unlikely. The OPEC+ group, which coordinates output among major producers, has been a key tool for managing market volatility. UAE had been pushing to raise its crude output to 5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027, a target that has often clashed with other members' quota agreements. Novak emphasized that the alliance "allows producers to manage risks on the oil markets during crises" and that Russia will continue to work together with its partners. He added, "therefore, we will continue to work together." Novak also noted that Russia and Saudi Arabia , the two biggest oil producers in OPEC+, had not discussed the UAE's exit. Novak said, "In the current situation, how can there be a price war amid a shortage on the global market?" He added that "Huge volumes of oil are not reaching the market now. Demand significantly outstrips supply, due to the serious logistics hurdles with the situation in the Middle East." The deputy prime minister also noted that Russia and Saudi Arabia , the two biggest oil producers in OPEC+, had not discussed the UAE's exit.