President Joe Biden announced a ban on oil and natural gas from Russia, yielding to pressure from Congress to strike at one of Moscow’s remaining economic lifelines as it continues its attacks on Ukraine.
Fearing surging gas prices, the Biden administration had sought to protect certain carve-outs for global energy interests in the penalties it had imposed on Moscow in response to its attack on Ukraine. But those concerns fell by the wayside as bipartisan lawmakers barreled last week toward a law to halt Russian energy imports.
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“We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy,” Biden said in remarks Tuesday, targeting “the main artery of Russia’s economy.”
WHITE HOUSE HAS ‘LOST CONTROL ON THE HILL’ OVER RUSSIAN OIL BAN
He added: “That means Russian oil will no longer be accepted at U.S. ports, and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.”
The White House had ruled out sanctions on Russian energy, arguing the effects would be felt at home. Already high gasoline prices have surged since the war began, reaching record levels this week.
Biden warned that the new measures would impose costs on Americans.
“This is a step that we’re taking to inflict further pain on Putin,” the president said, “but there will be costs as well here in the United States.” He blamed the surge in gas prices on the Russian leader.
“Putin’s war is already hurting American families at the gas pump,” Biden said. “Since Putin began his military buildup on Ukrainian borders, just since then, the price of gas at the pump in America went up 75 cents.”
In a nod to bipartisan lawmakers who are pressing forward with legislation despite the White House’s new order, the president said that “Republicans and Democrats alike have been clear that we must do this.”
He had urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a phone call late Monday to stop a bipartisan bill banning all U.S. imports of Russian oil and gas, according to Fox News, suggesting that the White House is acting Tuesday in order to get ahead of the legislation in Congress.
After news of Biden’s forthcoming announcement, Pelosi told Democrats Tuesday that she would move ahead regardless.
Biden argued that his administration was not at fault for surging costs, telling the nation, “It’s simply not true that my administration or policies are holding back domestic energy production.”
He said green energy investments could be used to offset rising fossil fuel costs. “It will mean that no one has to worry about the price of gas at the pump in the future,” he added.
“That will mean tyrants like Putin won’t be able to use fossil fuels as weapons against other nations,” he added.
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European allies announced plans to curtail Russian energy exports, though stopped short of a full ban.
The United Kingdom said it would ban oil imports over several months but would leave gas imports untouched.
