US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the ban on imports of oil, natural gas and coal from Russia, in a new measure of pressure on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. “It means that Russian oil will not be accepted in US ports.”the US president warned in a speech at the White House.
“We will not subsidize (Vladimir) Putin’s war,” Biden stressed, advocating continuing to increase pressure on Russia after “the most significant economic sanctions package in history“. The president, who has reviewed some of the measures adopted against Russia, has also revealed that his country will increase oil production to counteract the progressive energy isolation.
Likewise, it has promised to work “closely” with European partners to develop a long-term strategy that allows progressively reducing dependence on energy from Russia. That is, the ban on energy imports from Russia, one of the largest global producers, will be only by Washington, since the European allies, much more dependent on Russian energy, have shown their reluctance in this regard. US imports of oil from Russia account for about 8% of the totalwhile in the European case it is 27%, according to the respective official data.
In this sense, Biden has recognized that “Defending democracy” against the Russian invasion will entail “costs” for Americans, referring to the notable increase in fuel prices recorded in recent days. “Defending democracy is going to involve costs, and it is going to cost us too,” Biden asserted after communicating the new measures that the country will adopt.
This Monday, the president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, was in favor of the international communityHe approves canceling purchases of Russian oil. “You can call it an embargo or a moral act when you refuse to give money to terrorists,” Zelensky said in a video message.
The ban on energy imports from Russia by the US adds to the recently adopted economic sanctions against Moscow in coordination with European partners, including the restriction of international operations of the Russian central bank and the suspension of Russian banks from the international SWIFT system.
Source: Lasexta
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