Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, spoke Thursday to reporters about the ongoing energy crisis that has been exacerbated since the Russian invasion in Ukraine. When asked about U.S. sanctions against Russian oil and the financial support that importing resources from the country could provide to Russian President Vladimir Putin (Russia), Psaki stated that the administration is trying to sell. Psaki acknowledged that the process could take time.
The press secretary stated that any decision made must go through a policy process. “Sometimes these move quickly and sometimes there are many factors that are discussed while those decisions are being made.”
Psaki stated that they want each sanction to directly affect Putin’s pockets.
Psaki stated that “one of the major factors is, obviously, the proximity to Vladimir Putin.” He spoke about future energy sanctions targeting Russia’s oligarchy. We want him to feel the squeeze. We want him and his family to feel the squeeze. This is not the end of the oligarchs. The president has made it a priority to make them the focus of individual sanctions.
According to reports, the U.S. buys 650,000 barrels per day from Russia. This is a serious concern following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine where hundreds of civilians were killed in eight days of violence. The White House is now facing bipartisan calls to increase domestic energy production.
Psaki joined “America’s Newsroom” on Tuesday to discuss the Biden Administration’s response to Ukraine’s crisis as it relates energy and moves that the White House is still considering while the Russian attack continues.
Psaki said to Dana Perino, Bill Hemmer that Russia has serious financial problems and this is affecting President Putin and his circle. “What he also considers, however, and this was something we were very aware of, is minimising the impact on global markets and the American people.”
When asked about reopening Keystone XL to reduce energy dependence abroad, Psaki mentioned that a “wide variety of options” were available. This was in response to President Donald Trump’s concerns regarding energy prices.
Psaki stated that “The Keystone pipeline, it will take years for that impact to have an effect on prices.” There are many reasons the president doesn’t like it. But it isn’t working. It would take many years. Oil companies have not yet tapped into 9,000 of the approved oil leases.
She continued, “So yes, all of us want to take steps in order to reduce any increase in gas prices that affect the American people.” “But, we need to be clear about which policies will work and which will not.”
