{"id":3247,"date":"2022-03-09T18:14:41","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T23:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whia.us\/3247\/"},"modified":"2022-03-14T05:59:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T10:59:50","slug":"%d8%aa%d8%b5%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%ad%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%8a%d8%af%d9%86-%d9%84%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b9%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%86-%d9%81%d8%b1%d8%b6-%d8%a7%d9%84","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whia.us\/en\/3247\/","title":{"rendered":"Remarks by President Biden Announcing U.S. Ban on Imports of Russian Oil, Liquefied Natural Gas, and Coal"},"content":{"rendered":"

MARCH 08, 2022<\/em><\/p>\n

Roosevelt Room<\/em>
\n11:25 A.M. EST<\/em><\/p>\n

THE PRESIDENT:\u00a0 Good morning, folks.\u00a0 Sorry to keep you waiting.\u00a0 I was on a couple of phone calls.<\/p>\n

Today I\u2019m announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy.<\/p>\n

That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports, and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin\u2019s war machine.<\/p>\n

This is a move that has strong bipartisan support in the Congress and, I believe, in the country.<\/p>\n

Americans have rallied support \u2014 have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and made it clear we will not be part\u00a0of subsidizing Putin\u2019s war.<\/p>\n

This made \u2014 we made this decision in close consultation with our Allies and our partners around the world, particularly in Europe, because a united response to Putin\u2019s aggression has been my overriding focus, to keep all NATO and all of the EU and our allies totally united.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re moving forward on this ban, understanding that many of our European Allies and partners may not be in a position to join us.<\/p>\n

The United States produces far more oil domestically than all of European \u2014 all the European countries combined.\u00a0 In fact, we\u2019re a net exporter of energy.\u00a0 So we can take this step when others cannot.<\/p>\n

But we\u2019re working closely with Europe and our partners\u00a0to develop a long-term strategy to reduce their dependence on Russian energy as well.<\/p>\n

Our teams are actively discussing how to make this happen.\u00a0 And today, we remain united \u2014 we remain united in our purpose to keep pressure mounting on Putin and his war machine.<\/p>\n

This is a step that we\u2019re taking to inflict further pain on Putin.\u00a0 But there will be costs as well here in the United States.\u00a0 I said I would level with the American people from the beginning.\u00a0 And when I first spoke to this, I said defending freedom is going to cost \u2014 it\u2019s going to cost us as well, in the United States.<\/p>\n

Republicans and Democrats understand \u2014 alike understand that.\u00a0 Republicans and Democrats alike have been clear that we must do this.<\/p>\n

Over the last week, I\u2019ve spoken with President Zelenskyy several times to hear from him about the situation on the ground and to consult and continuing to consult with our European allies and \u2014 about U.S. support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.<\/p>\n

Thus far, we\u2019ve provided more than $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.\u00a0 Shipments of defensive weapons are arriving in Ukraine every day from the United States.\u00a0 And we, the United States, are the ones coordinating the delivery of our Allies and partners of similar weapons, from Germany to Finland to the Netherlands.\u00a0 We\u2019re accom- \u2014 we\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re working that out.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re also providing humanitarian support for the Ukrainian people, both those still in Ukraine and those who have fled safely to a neighboring country.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re working with humanitarian organizations to surge tens of thousands of tons of food, water, and medical supplies into Ukraine, and with more on the way.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, I sent Secretary Blinken to visit our border between \u2014 the border Poland and Ukraine and to Moldova to see what the situation was firsthand and report back.<\/p>\n

General Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of our Defense Department, is also \u2014 was also in Europe, meeting with his counterparts and Allies on NATO\u2019s eastern flank to reassure them \u2014 those countries bordering Russia, NATO countries \u2014 that we will keep our NATO commitment \u2014 a sacred commitment to Article \u2014 of Article 5.<\/p>\n

The Vice President Harris is going to be traveling to meet with our allies in Poland and Romania later this week as well.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve made it clear that the United States will share in the responsibility of caring for the refugees so the costs do not fall entirely on the European countries bordering Ukraine.<\/p>\n

And yesterday I spoke with my counterparts from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom about Russia\u2019s escalating violence against Ukraine and the steps that we\u2019re going to take together with our Allies and partners around the world to respond to this aggression.<\/p>\n

We are enforcing the most significant package of economic sanctions in history, and it\u2019s causing significant damage\u00a0to Russia\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

It has caused the Russian economy to, quite frankly, crater.\u00a0 The Russian ruble is now down to 50 percent \u2014 by 50 percent since Putin announced his war.\u00a0 One ruble is now worth less than one American penny.\u00a0 One ruble is less than one American penny.<\/p>\n

And preventing Russia\u2019s Central Bank from propping up the ruble and to keep its value up.\u00a0 They\u2019re not going to be able to do that now.<\/p>\n

We cut Russia\u2019s largest banks from the international financial system, and it\u2019s crippled their ability to do business with the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

In addition, we\u2019re choking off Russia\u2019s access to technology, like semiconductors that are \u2014 and sap its economic strength and weaken its military for years to come.<\/p>\n

Major companies are pulling out of Russia entirely, without even being asked \u2014 not by us.\u00a0 Over the weekend, Visa, Mastercard, American Express \u2014 they all suspended their services in Russia.\u00a0 All of them.<\/p>\n

Joining a growing list of American and global companies from Ford to Nike to Apple, they\u2019ve suspended their operations in Russia.<\/p>\n

The U.S. stock exchange has halted trading of many Russian securities.\u00a0 And the private sector is standing united against Russia\u2019s vicious war of choice.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Justice has assembled a dedicated task force to go after Russian \u2014 the crimes of Russian oligarchs.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re joining with our European allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets, and all their ill-begotten gains to make sure they share in the pain of Putin\u2019s war.<\/p>\n

These, by the way, are giant yachts.\u00a0 You put some of them in your press.\u00a0 I mean, some of them are \u2014 I think I read one was over 400 feet long.\u00a0 I mean, it\u2019s \u2014 this is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n

The decision today is not without cost here at home.\u00a0 Putin\u2019s war is already hurting American families at the gas pump.<\/p>\n

Since Putin began his military buildup on Ukrainian borders, just since then, the price of the gas at the pump in America went up 75 cents.\u00a0 And with this action, it\u2019s going to go up further.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to do everything I can to minimize Putin\u2019s price hike here at home.\u00a0 In coordination with our partners, we\u2019ve already announced that we\u2019re releasing 60 million barrels of oil from our joint oil reserves.\u00a0 Half of that \u2014 30 billion \u2014 million \u2014 excuse me \u2014 is coming from the United States.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re taking steps to ensure the reliable supply of global energy.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re also going to keep working with every tool at our disposal to protect American families and businesses.<\/p>\n

Now, let me \u2014 let me say this.\u00a0 To the oil and gas companies and to the finance firms that back them: We understand Putin\u2019s war against the people of Ukraine is causing prices to rise.\u00a0 We get that.\u00a0 That\u2019s self-evident.\u00a0 But \u2014 but, but, but \u2014 it\u2019s no excuse to exercise excessive price increases or padding profits or any kind of effort to exploit this situation or Ameri- \u2014 or American consumers \u2014 exploit them.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s aggression is costing us all, and it\u2019s no time for profiteering or price gouging.<\/p>\n

I want to be clear about what we\u2019ll not tolerate, but I also want to acknowledge those firms in oil and gas industries\u00a0that are pulling out of Russia and joining other businesses that are leading by example.<\/p>\n

This is a time when we have to do our part and make sure we\u2019re not taking \u2014 we\u2019re not taking advantage.<\/p>\n

Look, let me be clear about two other points.\u00a0 First, it\u2019s simply not true that my administration or policies are holding back domestic energy production.\u00a0 That\u2019s simply not true.<\/p>\n

Even amid the pandemic, companies in the United States\u00a0pumped more oil during my first year in office than they did during my predecessor\u2019s first year.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re approaching record levels of oil and gas production in the United States, and we\u2019re on track to set a record of oil production next year.<\/p>\n

In the United States, 90 percent of onshore oil production\u00a0takes place on land that isn\u2019t owned by the federal government.\u00a0 And of the remaining 10 percent that occurs on federal land, the oil and gas industry has millions of acres leased.\u00a0 They have 9,000 permits to drill now.\u00a0 They could be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year.\u00a0 They have 9,000 to drill onshore that are already approved.<\/p>\n

So let me be clear \u2014 let me be clear: They are not using them for production now.\u00a0 That\u2019s their decision.\u00a0 These are the facts.\u00a0 We should be honest about the facts.<\/p>\n

Second, this crisis is a stark reminder: To protect our economy over the long term, we need to become energy independent.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had numerous conversations over the last three months with our European friends of how they have to wean themselves off of Russia \u2014 Russian oil.\u00a0 It\u2019s just not \u2014 it\u2019s just not tenable.<\/p>\n

It should motivate us to accelerate the transition to clean energy.\u00a0 This is a perspective, as I said, that our European allies share and the \u2014 a future where together we can achieve greater independence.<\/p>\n

Loosening environmental regulations or pulling back clean energy investment won\u2019t \u2014 let me explain \u2014 won\u2019t \u2014 will not lower energy prices for families.\u00a0 But transforming our economy\u00a0to run on electric vehicles powered by clean energy with tax credits to help American families winterize their homes and use less energy, that will \u2014 that will help.<\/p>\n

And if we can \u2014 if we do what we can, it will mean that\u00a0no one has to worry about the price at the gas pump in the future.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll mean tyrants like Putin won\u2019t be able to use fossil fuels as weapons against other nations.<\/p>\n

And it will make America a world leader manufacturing and exporting clean energy technologies of the future to countries all around the world.<\/p>\n

This is the goal we should be racing toward.<\/p>\n

Over the last two weeks, the Ukrainian people have inspired the world \u2014 and I mean that in a literal sense.\u00a0 They\u2019ve inspired the world with their bravery, their patriotism, their defiant determination to live free.<\/p>\n

Putin\u2019s war \u2014 Putin\u2019s war has caused enormous suffering\u00a0and needless loss of life of women, children, everyone in Ukraine \u2014 both Ukraine and, I might add, Russians.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian leaders, as well as leaders around the world, have repeatedly called for a ceasefire, for humanitarian relief,\u00a0for real diplomacy.\u00a0 But Putin seems determined to continue on his murderous path no matter the cost.<\/p>\n

Putin is now targeting cities and has been targeting cities and civilians \u2014 schools, hospitals, apartment buildings.<\/p>\n

Last week, he attacked the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, with an apparent disregard for the potential of triggering a nuclear meltdown.<\/p>\n

He has already turned 2 million Ukrainians into refugees.<\/p>\n

Russia may continue to grind out its advance at a horrible price, but this much is already clear: Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin.<\/p>\n

Putin may be able to take a city, but he\u2019ll never be able to hold the country.\u00a0 And if we do not respond to Putin\u2019s assault on global peace and stability today, the cost of freedom and to the American people will be even greater tomorrow.<\/p>\n

So we\u2019re going to continue to support the brave Ukrainian people as they fight for their country.\u00a0 And I call on Congress\u00a0to pass the $12 billion Ukraine assistance package that I have asked them for of late.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian people are demonstrating by their physical courage that they are not about to just let Putin\u00a0take what he wants.\u00a0 That\u2019s clear.\u00a0 They\u2019ll defend their freedom, their democracy, their lives.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re going to keep providing security assistance, economic assistance, and humanitarian assistance.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to support them against tyranny, oppression, violent acts of subjugation.<\/p>\n

People everywhere \u2014 and I think it\u2019s maybe even surprised some of you all \u2014 people everywhere are speaking up for freedom.\u00a0 And when the history of this war is written, Putin\u2019s war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.<\/p>\n

May God bless all those heroes of Ukraine.\u00a0 And now I\u2019m off to Texas.\u00a0 Thank you very, very much.<\/p>\n

(Cross-talk by reporters.)<\/p>\n

I know there\u2019s a lot of que- \u2014<\/p>\n

Q \u00a0\u00a0 Mr. President, will you cut off trade with Russia? Will you cut off trade with Russia?<\/p>\n

THE PRESIDENT:\u00a0 I know \u2014 I know there\u2019s a lot of questions, but there\u2019s a lot more that has to be made clear.\u00a0 And I\u2019m going to hold on that until we get more information.\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Appreciate it.<\/p>\n

11:37 A.M. EST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I\u2019m announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3250,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[142,126],"tags":[156,149,212,127,145],"series":[1027],"coauthors":[238],"class_list":["post-3247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-most-important-topics-en","category-white-house-en","tag-russian-federation-en","tag-white-house-en","tag-ukraine","tag-usa-world-en","tag-usa-en","series-whia-synergy"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/whia.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-oil.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/whia.us\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/whia.us\/en\/feed\/podcast\/whia-synergy","embedCode":"

Remarks by President Biden Announcing U.S. Ban on Imports of Russian Oil, Liquefied Natural Gas, and Coal<\/a><\/blockquote>