US President Joe Biden announced at a press conference the ban on imports of Russian oil.
“We are banning all imports of Russian oil, gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable in US ports and the American people will deal another mighty blow to Russia’s war machine.” [el presidente ruso, Vladímir] Putin,” the president said.
“It is a decision that has the support of both parties in Congress and, I think, of the entire country,” Biden said.
Biden reported that the decision was made in close consultation with allies, including in Europe, many of whom the United States understands may not be in a position to join their country in this ban.
He also said that the United States produces far more oil domestically than all European countries combined.
He added that the decision to ban oil imports from Russia is not without cost to the United States.
“Today’s decision comes at a cost here at home,” Biden said at the White House.
The US president announced that he asked Congress to approve the law to provide Ukraine with 12,000 million dollars in aid.
“I urge Congress to pass the $12 billion aid package for Ukraine that I asked for,” Biden said.
Several Western countries have applied sanctions to Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 the launch of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, alleging that the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, previously recognized by Moscow as sovereign states, they need help in the face of “genocide” by Kiev.
One of the fundamental objectives of this operation, according to Putin, is “the demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the military attacks are not directed against civilian installations, but rather seek to disable the war infrastructure.
