By one estimate, Russia's economic output would more than double if the Russians simply sold off their natural resources instead of trying to make something out of them.
The Russians are not in a position to make money on the world market no matter what they do. 
mnli hypothesis: The Russians are not in a position to make money on the world market no matter what they do.  premise: By one estimate, Russia's economic output would more than double if the Russians simply sold off their natural resources instead of trying to make something out of them.