Blinken says White House discussing prospect of a Russian oil ban as pleas increase

[bluewater]

Source: MSN

U.S. leaders showed increasing support for a ban on Russian oil imports on Sunday, indicating what could be a step forward in heeding one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pleas, as the invasion of his country continues.

Zelenskyy on Saturday spoke with members of Congress, asking for actions to knee-cap Russia and aid the Ukrainian resistance to Vladimir Putin's attacks. Though White House leaders initially appeared resistant to one of his major asks — sanctions on Russian oil imports — the U.S. secretary of State on Sunday morning struck a less averse tone. He said he spoke with the president and other Cabinet officials on “exactly this subject” the day prior.

“We are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil, while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “That's a very active discussion as we speak.”

Previously, White House press secretary Jen Psaki had told reporters Friday that the administration was looking at actions to cut U.S. consumption of energy from Moscow, but added that the White House was “very focused on minimizing the impact to families” and expressed concern that a ban could raise gas prices.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/blinken-says-white-house-discussing-prospect-of-a-russian-oil-ban-as-pleas-increase/ar-AAUGQmR

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Could someone explain this to me?

I was told by my Senator's office that the US and NATO could not and would not intervene directly to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine because, in their exact words, "it would lead to WWIII".

OK. Many people elsewhere have made the same point. I accept this.

I then asked if we would be providing as much military support as possible and would we impose immediate sanctions on the Russian economy, since those take time to become effective.

I was told in no uncertain terms that that was exactly what the US position is.

So, could someone explain to me why as Russia is indiscriminately shelling Ukraine's cities and killing thousands of civilians, why as the heroic Ukrainian military is fighting for the life of their country, why as President Zelensky is issuing more and more desperate pleas for increased support why are we now still only "discussing prospect of a Russian oil ban"?

Is the situation in Ukraine not yet dire enough that, as the article stated, "White House press secretary Jen Psaki had told reporters Friday that the administration was looking at actions to cut U.S. consumption of energy from Moscow, but added that the White House was “very focused on minimizing the impact to families” and expressed concern that a ban could raise gas prices."

Gas prices?!? That's our concern right now? This far into the invasion?

[BootinUp]

1. We have to decimate the Russian economy and as soon as possible eom.

[BlueIdaho]

2. Destroy Russia Economically

And the government will fall.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Regarding the oil ban Secretary of State Blinken has said we don't want to take any action that

"hurts us" - and by that meaning hurts the U.S. economy through higher oil prices.

[bluewater]

5. "Secretary of State Blinked has said we don't want to take any action that "hurts us" "

That seems like an unbelievable thing to say in the middle of the Russian invasion.

I am at a loss for words.

[Wingus Dingus]

4. Because the GOP want gas prices to go up so we lose the midterms.

The Biden administration is trying to help Ukraine without shooting themselves in the foot--oil ban has to be cost effective and not symbolic, in light of the potential political and economic repercussions in the US.

[Dopers_Greed]

6. Higher oil prices could put the US economy into a recession

That would surely re-elect Trump, which wouldn't be conducive to taking out Putin.

[bluewater]

8. So as the Ukrainians fight, we continue to buy oil from their attackers?

I am having trouble wrapping my mind around this.

Continuing to buy oil from Russia, which along with gas exports is the only thing propping up their economy, is something we want to do while they kill more innocent people and crush a democratic country?

[SuperCoder]

24. Not necessarily. If Biden does things according to Fareed's playbook...prices should fall rapidly...

This is only a smaller portion. I recommend reading the whole thing before responding.

How to beat Putin, for real

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/03/biden-west-must-sanction-putins-oil-and-gas/

There is one path to changing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calculus: sanctioning Russia’s oil and gas industry. This is Putin’s golden goose, the source of the state’s wealth and the reason he might believe that he can weather any storm. So far, not only have these been left untouched, but the financial sanctions have been carefully designed to allow Russia room to continue to sell energy to the world.

The conventional wisdom is that the West cannot sanction Russian energy because it would trigger an energy crisis along the lines of the 1970s episode, which would cause deep discontent at home. But the situation is not analogous to the 1970s predicament at all. Today, the United States is the largest producer of oil and gas in the world. It can ramp up production and exports and help open the spigots in other countries. President Biden is worried that he is going to look like former president Jimmy Carter, when his power position is actually more like that of the king of Saudi Arabia.

Biden should announce that he is going to respond to this massive challenge to the international order by expediting as much production and export of U.S. petroleum as possible to replace Russian energy. With natural gas, he should urge his regulators to facilitate production and he should help more with the financing of liquefied natural gas, so that it can be sent to Europe. He should also encourage countries such as Japan and South Korea to divert more of their liquefied natural gas to Europe. (They have alternative energy sources.) Some of this will take time, but markets will react to the signals and new supplies — and prices will fall.

But this will not be enough. Biden should also help to unlock two large sources of oil that are currently not getting to the market fast enough or in sufficient quantities. He should suspend former president Donald Trump’s sanctions on Venezuela and Iran. If possible, Washington should work with Iran to close the few remaining gaps and reenter the nuclear deal, which would bring all of Iran’s oil back on the market. And Biden should personally reach out to Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates (both of whom feel unloved by Washington these days), patch up relations with them and ask them to ramp up production — which the Gulf states can best do in the short term.

[bluewater]

25. Excellent points.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Oil markets are not something you just slam on the brakes

It's a distribution system and a payments system. Plus I would think in the early parts of this conflict the world would want to fill the gas tank as much as possible and then cut off Russia oil at a point of maximum economic, financial, and military impact. The public is not privy to exactly when that is, and it sounds like people with far more knowledge of the impact economically, politically, financially are also grappling with it. It's a judgment call, with negotiations for the impact on a world of countries.

[bluewater]

10. I thought everyone was cheering because countries were turning back shipments of Russian oil?

"Plus I would think in the early parts of this conflict the world would want to fill the gas tank as much as possible and then cut off Russia oil at a point of maximum economic, financial, and military impact."

From the desperate pleas of President Zelensky, I hope that the time to "cut off Russian oil" occurs before tens of thousands Ukrainians die and Russia conquers their country. There are already 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees that have fled their country.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Perhaps there's a difference between the press releases and economic reality

It wouldn't be the first time. But it's not like turning a faucet off.

[Phoenix61]

9. The US isn't the largest importer of Russian fuels.

If we are the only one that stops buying that would have a limited impact on Russia but a significant impact on us. However, if well coordinated I’m guessing it would absolutely break Russia’s economy.

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. It's the midterms that are causing the hesitation - Dems are vulnerable on inflation

The GOP is salivating at the possibility that the Biden administration will move to halt Russian oil exports.

Inflation is the one sure issue that cuts across party lines. Blocked Russian oil exports will cause a huge inflation spike, not just in gasoline costs, but in anything that uses fuel to move merchandise to market. They are probably waiting until they can increase the oil supply from other sources to partially offset the drop from the Russian ban. Even with the Fed set to hike rates this month, the expected gradual increase in the Prime will not likely have immediate effect on inflation, and if the Fed hikes more quickly/larger increments, they risk plunging the economy into recession (which might happen anyway).

Despite the moral clarity of blocking Russian oil, it’s a tough spot politically and economically.

[bluewater]

14. So you are saying the American voters care less about a Russian takeover than gas prices?

I understand the point you just made, but if you are correct that is a very sorry state of affairs for our country.

And, honestly, I would have thought that Russia conquering Ukraine during a Democratic administration would be the big worry politically.

Thanks for the discussion.

[Fiendish Thingy]

18. I would say that American voters can be convinced that high gas prices are more important

Than defending Ukraine.

Remember what the Russians convinced enough Americans to believe in 2016?

I hope America, and the rest of the west, have the patience and endurance to support sanctions for as long as they take to bring down Putin.

[bluewater]

19. I would say that the Republicans will say we "lost" Afghanistan and Ukraine

And rant and rave about Democrats being weak on defense.

And they would still harp on inflation in any case.



I would hope America, and the rest of the west, have the commitment to enact sanctions on Russia's energy exports and the endurance to support those sanctions for as long as they take to bring down Putin.

The longer we, the US and the rest of the west, continue to pay Putin for oil and gas the longer he stays in power.

[Fiendish Thingy]

20. Biden should require a vote from both houses before blocking Russian oil

Put the Republicans on record supporting the move (a non-binding resolution would suffice, not a formal bill).

[bluewater]

21. Excellent idea. When do you think that will be done?

We control both the House and the Senate and should be able to hold such a vote immediately.

[Fiendish Thingy]

26. I guess that's up to Biden, Pelosi, and Schumer. Nt

[bluewater]

27. Indeed.

[Lonestarblue]

13. I share your sentiment, Bluewater.

No one wants World War III, but having Poland send planes the Ukrainians know how to fly has been suggested for at least a week. No planes yet—still being “discussed.” Almost a week ago, Colonel Vindman suggested several options to help Ukraine’s military without boots on the ground, among which was armed unmanned aerial vehicles. No evidence of UAVs being sent. May not even be under discussion.

I saw a comment on another site this morning that Ukraine should simply surrender and then spend the next years on insurrection tactics as the sanctions work against Russia. But people should remember the lesson of Grozny where Putin’s forces leveled the city and murdered an estimated 5,000 to 9,000 civilians. If Ukraine surrendered now, Putin would order his forces to destroy Kviv as a lesson to those who resist him and most likely execute the entire Ukrainian army. He is a vindictive man who resents any opposition to his goals. He has already committed numerous war crimes. Nothing will stop him from committing more.

The West has appeased Putin for decades. Either we take a stand now with much of the world against Putin or we appease him once more and spend another decade or more fighting his aggression. Instead of holding back sanctions for future use, we should levy every sanction we have now. I think Putin is betting that sanctions will take so long to truly damage Russia that he will have taken Ukraine and the West will do nothing about it, at which point he will demand that all sanctions be dropped because the war is over.

[bluewater]

16. I agree. A line has to be drawn somewhere.

[manicdem]

15. Hawaii stopped buying russian oil

Hawaii normally imports 30% of our oil from Russia. Our only oil refiner announced they will stop buying Russian oil. However it took a lot of push and media attention by one of our orgs here to make them do that.

Now a big issue is the Jones act, which requires American made and crewed ships when transporting goods between two American ports. Since there is a relatively small number or ships that meet that criteria, it'll be difficult to find a replacement for Russian oil. It would make it difficult to get US oil or to get foreign oil that must make a stop at mainland US and Hawaii.

I expect the price of gas and electricity to get a large bump up temporarily, currently it's at $5.30 a gal now, but it's worth it if it helps Ukraine. It's a hard but small sacrifice compared to what is going on in Ukraine.

What is the most you would sacrifice to save a Ukrainians life?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

17. Murphy calls for replacing Russian oil with renewable energy in case of potential ban

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D) said on Sunday that if the U.S. decides to ban Russian energy imports, he would like to see the gap in energy production filled with renewable energy on top of domestic fossil fuel production.

Fox News Channel's chief legal correspondent and "Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream asked Murphy for his thoughts regarding the U.S. energy supply during an interview.

Bream noted that prominent figures like fellow Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who represents the coal-rich state of West Virginia, have called for increased oil and gas production.

"If prices go up, then you are naturally through the market mechanisms going to have more U.S. production. Joe Manchin represents a coal state. I represent a state that's going to have a lot of wind power online very soon and so my preference would be to try to fill in that gap with renewable energy," said Murphy.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/murphy-calls-for-replacing-russian-oil-with-renewable-energy-in-case-of-potential-ban/ar-AAUGWN3

[XiJung]

22. Do it. Domestic politics must not interfere n/t

[bluewater]

23. Domestic politics are important, Russia conquering Ukraine would be a political disaster.