US slaps ban on oil, gas imports from Russia
US President Joe Biden (File Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua/IANS)
New Delhi | The US on Tuesday banned all oil and gas imports from Russia, President Joe Biden said in a Twitter post.
“Today, I’m announcing that the United States is targeting a main artery of Russia’s economy. We are banning all imports of Russian oil and gas,” he tweeted.
Today, I’m announcing that the United States is targeting a main artery of Russia’s economy.
We are banning all imports of Russian oil and gas.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2022
The move to ban imports from Russia is seen as a support to war-torn Ukraine.
In another tweet, Biden said that Americans have rallied to support the people of Ukraine and made it clear that the country will not be part of subsidising Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war.
The ban on Russian oil and gas has strong bipartisan support in the Congress and in the country.
Americans have rallied to support the people of Ukraine and made it clear we will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2022
“This decision today is not without costs here at home. Putin’s war is already hurting American families at the pump — and this will drive up costs further. So, I will take every step we can to minimise Putin’s price hike here at home,” Biden said.
This decision today is not without costs here at home. Putin’s war is already hurting American families at the pump — and this will drive up costs further.
So, I will take every step we can to minimize Putin’s price hike here at home.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2022
Separately, the US has already announced a collective release of 60 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserves of the US and its partners. Half of the strategic reserves will come from the US.
“We’re taking steps to ensure a reliable supply of global energy. And we’re going to keep working with every tool at our disposal to protect American families and businesses,” Biden said.
IANS