Republicans slam Biden over continued Russian oil and gas imports
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) blasted President Biden on Tuesday for failing to include oil and gas exports in his sanctions against Russia, The Associated Press reported.
Per AP, Portman slammed Biden for increasing America's dependence on Russian oil after "shut[ting] down the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have transported tens of thousands of barrels each day from Canada to U.S. refineries."
Stitt sent a letter to Biden, in which he wrote that "we should be selling energy to our friends and not buying it from our enemies."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Last month, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin has "never seen sanctions like the ones I promised will be imposed" if he ordered an invasion of Ukraine. So far, U.S. sanctions have blocked several large Russian banks, restricted the country's sale of sovereign debt abroad, and targeted Russia's oligarchs and their families.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed on Monday that U.S. companies had not been banned from importing oil and gas from Russia, though she said the administration hasn't "ruled out" such a policy.
According to BBC, oil and gas provided 39 percent of Russia's federal budget revenue and accounted for 60 percent of Russian exports in 2019.
-
The ultimate films of 2025 by genreThe Week Recommends From comedies to thrillers, documentaries to animations, 2025 featured some unforgettable film moments
-
Political cartoons for January 3Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include citizen journalists, self-reflective AI, and Donald Trump's transparency
-
Into the Woods: a ‘hypnotic’ productionThe Week Recommends Jordan Fein’s revival of the much-loved Stephen Sondheim musical is ‘sharp, propulsive and often very funny’
-
Trump considers giving Ukraine a security guaranteeTalking Points Zelenskyy says it is a requirement for peace. Will Putin go along?
-
Vance’s ‘next move will reveal whether the conservative movement can move past Trump’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Who is paying for Europe’s €90bn Ukraine loan?Today’s Big Question Kyiv secures crucial funding but the EU ‘blinked’ at the chance to strike a bold blow against Russia
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
