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Biden govt slammed for funding Putin's war on Ukraine by STILL buying Russian oil

“If you're wondering how serious Biden is on Russian Sanctions, the answer is not very,” a user tweeted

President Joe Biden’s administration is facing a lot of criticism as it continues to buy Russian oil amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said that the government is not going to ban Moscow's fuel even after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed for a stop on the imports. Psaki told reporters on Thursday, March 3, “We don't have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy, and that would raise prices at the gas pump for the American people.”

When pressed further, she suggested that an incomplete ban would indirectly help Russia's efforts: “I don't know if we look at it exactly through that prism. Obviously, we have not held back in taking significant, historic steps that are crippling the Russian economy right now. The factor that we're looking at here is the impact on the gas pump for Americans. Reduction in supply in the marketplace, reduction for global supply, would have an impact on rising prices. So that's the prism that we're looking at it through.”

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Biden was also confronted by the reporters on Thursday as he participated in a Cabinet meeting. “Will you ban Russian oil?” the Democrat was asked, to which one of his staff members replied while asking media personnel to leave: “He said No! Let's go!” On the other hand, when Psaki was questioned about why steps have not been taken to increase oil production in the US, she hit back, “There are 9,000 approved oil leases that the oil companies are not tapping into currently, so I would ask them that question.”

When Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich asked, “Is there nothing that the administration can do to get those providers back to pre-pandemic levels?” Psaki replied, “You think oil companies don't have enough money to drill on the places that have been pre-approved? I would point that question to them and we can talk about it more tomorrow when you learn more.”

Psaki also rejected the idea of restoring the Keystone Pipeline to increase US’ oil production as she noted: “The Keystone Pipeline has never been operational. It would take years for that to have any impact,” before saying: “If we do more to invest in clean energy, if we do more to invest in other sources of energy, that's exactly what we can do to prevent this from happening in the future.”

However, when Heinrich asked, “As long as we're buying Russian oil though, aren't we financing the war?” Psaki fired back saying, “It's only about 10% of what we are importing.” Meanwhile, a White House fact sheet confirmed that US-Russia oil trade is not going to stop. It read: “The United States and our Allies and partners do not have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy– which is why we have carved out energy payments from our financial sanctions. But we and our Allies and partners share a strong interest in degrading Russia’s status as a leading energy supplier over time.”

But many from the United States Congress have turned against Biden’s decision to not put a ban on fuel import, with Pelosi saying: “Ban it. Ban the oil coming from Russia.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. also said, “So Nancy Pelosi is with us [on banning Russian oil imports] which made me wonder, what am I doin'? She's right!” And Sen. Joe Manchin added: “Putin brings everybody together.”

People on Twitter also slammed Biden as a user tweeted, “If you're wondering how serious Biden is on Russian Sanctions, the answer is not very. We continue to purchase russian oil - now at inflated cost. whatever $ Putin is losing in other sanctions, here's more than making it up from the US buying his oil.” Another user wrote, “Joe Biden would rather see Americans suffer even more at the pump rather than putting a stop to the US buying Russian oil. Instead he will continue to slap Putin on the wrist telling him “stop that” #BidenIsADisgrace.” “Biden is still buying Russian oil!!!!  Open US drilling and continue the Keystone pipeline!  Stop aiding Putin!” a third one commented.

A tweet read: “So Biden is in essence helping fund Russia's war chest to kill Ukrainian's. Got it.” Another tweet noted: “Biden says he won't ban Russian Oil because it would kill us at the pumps. He has put us in this position where we have no alternative but to fund the Russian War. Democrats never think of the consequences - they assume the rest of the world thinks as they do.”