U.S. looking for ways to reduce dependence on Russian oil

The U.S. is exploring ways to reduce consumption of Russian oil while preventing disruptions to global energy supplies. Dalip Singh, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, said.

“We are looking to reduce U.S. consumption of Russian oil while maintaining global energy supplies,” he said. According to Singh, reducing the world’s oil supply “would only raise gasoline prices at U.S. gas stations and help boost Russian President Vladimir Putin’s income.” Singh stressed that the goal of the U.S. authorities is to “reduce Russia’s status as a leading energy supplier.

According to official statistics from the Energy Information Administration, Russia is one of the top five foreign suppliers of oil to the American market. According to Bloomberg, Russia moved into second place among U.S. importers of oil in 2021.

Asked by reporters earlier Wednesday about the possibility of a ban on oil imports from Russia, U.S. President Joe Biden said “nothing is out of the question.” However, he has assured on several occasions in recent days that the U.S. government will try to minimize the impact on Americans of various restrictive measures against Russia, including the need to curb the already high fuel prices in the United States.