Russia's leaders seem in little doubt that, in an era of $60 a barrel oil, they command more attention on the world stage than at any time since the break-up of the Soviet Union abruptly denuded Moscow of its great power status.

"In the 1970s and 1980s nuclear weapons are what gave the Soviet Union a position in the world. In this decade it's energy which has given Russian an entree to the top table," said Stephen O'Sullivan, a strategist at UFG in Moscow.

With energy supplies tight, a growing number of countries have their eyes on Russia, the world's second largest oil producer and its biggest source of gas reserves, as a potential long-term supplier of hydrocarbons.

"It's interesting for Russia to be courted by so many countries. The United States is interested in liquefied natural gas, Europe in gas and China in oil," said O'Sullivan.

Benchmark New York oil futures hit a record $68 this week.