If Joe Biden is serious about helping Ukraine, there’s really only one thing he can do that will show the world he means business.
Ban oil from Russia.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington, said that he supports banning imports of oil from Russia.
“We’ve got to be ready for the fact that will drive up oil prices, that will drive up gas prices. And if we are really standing with Ukraine, we have to be prepared to absorb that.”
He made the statement on CNN’s The Lead, hosted by Jake Tapper.
Tapper pointed out that he wasn’t sure exactly where the White House stood on Russian oil right now.
“President Biden confirmed today that he is considering banning Russian oil imports, although the White House seems to be now trying to walk that back a bit.”
He then asked Smith if it was worth banning Russian oil even if it hurt the American economy. “Would you support that, even though, obviously, it would damage the U.S. economy?”
“Yes, I would,” Smith replied. “I mean, that is the one key piece of the Russian economy that we still haven’t gone after. And if we are going to do maximum sanctions, that’s the step to take. Now, here in America, we’ve got to be ready for the fact that will drive up oil prices, that will drive up gas prices. And if we are really standing with Ukraine, we have to be prepared to absorb that. But given what’s happening in Ukraine, any step that we can take that doesn’t bring about actual warfare with Russia, I think we have to take.”
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