U.S. Bans Russian Oil and Gas Imports by War in Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new ban on Russia’s oil, gas and energy imports in response to the invasion of Ukraine that began on Feb. 24, 2022. In a press conference from the White House, the US president said that the ban on US imports of Russian energy has the support of Democrats and Republicans. “It means that Russian oil will not be accepted in U.S. ports,” Joe Biden said of the new sanction for Russia.Read more: U.S. gasoline price reaches all-time high after vetoing Russia for invasion of UkraineHe said they have decided to adopt this ban, even though many of europe’s allies are not in a position to join the measure, because “the United States produces much more crude domestically than the combined of all European countries.” In fact, he added, “we are a net exporter of energy, so we can take a step that others cannot, but we are working closely with Europe and our partners to develop a more long-term strategy to reduce dependence on Russian energy.” US imports of oil from Russia account for about 8% of the total, while in the European case it is 27%, according to official data. Despite these words, Biden acknowledged in his speech that “defending democracy” in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine will entail “costs” for Americans, in reference to the notable increase in the price of fuel registered in recent days. Defending democracy will involve costs, and it will entail costs for us as well,” he warned. Fuel prices have soared in the U.S. after the invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AP In that regard, he said he will do everything possible to minimize the increase in energy prices in the United States.Biden listed a series of measures that his government has adopted to this end, in coordination with allies, such as the release of 60 million barrels of crude oil from joint oil reserves, and warned oil companies that it will not tolerate them benefiting from the current situation by inflating prices.” We are approaching record levels of oil and gas production in the United States,” he said. Biden said this crisis serves as a reminder of the importance of the U.S. being energy independent. “It should motivate us to accelerate the transition to clean energy,” he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday spoke in favor of the international community approving canceling purchases of Russian oil. Read more: At least 2 million people have left their homes in Ukraine following Russia’s invasionThe US ban on energy imports from Russia adds to recently adopted economic sanctions against Moscow in coordination with European partners, including restricting the Russian central bank’s international operations and suspending certain Russian banks from the international SWIFT system.  Young man exposes what it’s like to flee the Ukraine conflict on TikTok

Original source in Spanish