White House spokesperson Jen Psaki spoke about reports on possibilities that India could take up the Russian offer of discounted crude oil. Psaki said: "I don't believe this would be violating sanctions. But also think about where you want to stand when history books are written at this moment in time. Support for the Russian leadership is support for an invasion that obviously is having a devastating impact".
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared a mission to build an international coalition against Russia and wean off dependence on its oil and gas exports in protest against the conflict with Ukraine, as he embarked on a visit to the Gulf region on Wednesday. Johnson is scheduled to meet with leaders in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh for talks on energy, regional security and humanitarian relief as part of what Downing Street described as the UK's efforts to galvanise global action on the crisis in Ukraine.
The leaders are expected to discuss efforts to improve energy security and reduce volatility in global energy and food prices amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. "The brutal and unprovoked assault President Putin has unleashed on Ukraine will have far-reaching consequences for the world, well beyond Europe's borders," Johnson said ahead of his visit.
"The UK is building an international coalition to deal with the new reality we face. The world must wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons and starve Putin's addiction to oil and gas. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are key international partners in that effort. We will work with them to ensure regional security, support the humanitarian relief effort and stabilise global energy markets for the longer term," he said.
Johnson will hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The focus of the visit is on highlighting the importance of working together to increase the diplomatic and economic pressure on President Vladimir Putin's regime and minimise the global fallout from the conflict.
"Vladimir Putin over the last years has been like a pusher, feeding an addiction in Western countries to his hydrocarbons," Johnson told reporters before he set off from the UK. "We need to get ourselves off that addiction," he added.
-Inputs from agencies
