Biden announces US ban on Russian oil imports

*Ban Russian oil imports, face the ‘catastrophic’ fallout, Moscow warns West

*Fear of life without Russian oil and gas as UK delays cut off till end of 2022

*US gasoline hits record $4.17

*Russia lodges appeal against FIFA, UEFA bans, says CAS

*Zelenskyy addresses UK parliament, calls for support

*CIA’s procrastination about Putin inability to install puppet gov’t in Kyiv

The United States of America’s President, Mr. Joe Biden, has announced his country’s ban on Russian oil and other energy imports, ramping up a pressure campaign on Moscow in retaliation for its military operations in Ukraine.

“This is a step we are taking to inflict further pain on Putin,” Biden said.

President Biden said decision to ban Russian oil and gas imports was taken in ‘close consultation’ with allies.

The US president said he understood that many allies would not be able to take a similar step due to their reliance on Russian oil.

“We are enforcing the most significant package of sanctions in history,” he said.

The US imports Russian oil, but it is not highly dependent on the country for its supplies, it was said.

US President Joe Biden has sent a letter of thanks to South Korean President Moon Jae-in for joining financial sanctions and export controls against Russia.

Biden added that the move sent a strong message of support for Ukraine, according to Moon’s office.

If the US President’s intention is to inflict pains on President Vladimir Putin, it is unclear how that would be felt being that the proportion of what it imports from Russia is insignificant to what Moscow exports to other places including Europe.

In 2021, the US imported an average of 209,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and 500,000 bpd of other petroleum products from Russia, according to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) trade association.

This represented three percent of its crude oil imports and one percent of the total crude oil processed by US refineries.

On the part of Russia, it has acknowledged that the economic sanctions America led against it will have their impact but was quick to say it had prepared these sanctions and that it was going to solve the problems the sanctions subjected it to.

Russia, however, warned the West of ‘catastrophic’ fallout that will have to contend with, if it bans Russian oil imports

A top Russian official gave the warning saying a Western ban on the country’s oil imports could result in prices more than doubling to about $300 per barrel and prompt the closure of the main gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

In a statement on state television, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said it was “absolutely clear that a rejection of Russian oil would lead to catastrophic consequences for the global market”.

Ukrainian officials confirmed civilians evacuation from the besieged areas of Irpin, near the capital, Kyiv, and northeastern Sumy.

Russia had declared another ceasefire and said that a string of humanitarian corridors had been opened.

Moscow said evacuees would be allowed to travel to safer places in Ukraine after Kyiv rejected an earlier plan to funnel civilians to Russia and Belarus.

UN refugee chief said the number of people fleeing war-torn Ukrainian offensive had reached two million.

US gasoline hits record $4.17

The average price of gasoline in the US has hit a record $4.17 per gallon as the country announced a ban on Russian oil imports.

The national average rose by 10 cents per gallon in one day, up 55 cents since last week, according to AAA data. The previous high was set 13 years ago when the national average price hit $4.10 per gallon.

US lawmakers were discussing ways to ease the impact of the ban on energy prices.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, said the White House had been reluctant to put the ban in place because of the impact on American consumers.

The price of petrol is expected to climb significantly.

“The President said prices could go up by at least 75 cents a gallon.

“That’s a lot considering that Americans are paying some of the highest prices for consumer goods and given the fact that inflation is at the highest we’ve seen in 40 years,” Halkett said.

Fear of life without Russian oil and gas as UK delays cut off till end of 2022

Britain has also indicated its intention to phase out imports of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson, made this known in an announcement on Tuesday.

“In another economic blow to the Putin regime following their illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK will move away from dependence on Russian oil throughout this year, building on our severe package of international economic sanctions.

“We are confident that this can be achieved over the course of the year, providing enough time for companies to adjust and ensuring consumers are protected,” Johnson said in a statement.

Russia lodges appeal against FIFA, UEFA bans, says CAS

The Football Union of Russia has lodged appeals against the suspension of Russian national teams and clubs from all FIFA and UEFA competitions over the invasion of Ukraine, the sport’s top court has said.

The FUR is asking the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a stay of execution for the suspensions, to allow Russia to play in a 2022 World Cup playoff against Poland at the end of this month.

Zelenskyy addresses UK parliament, calls for support

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given a historic virtual address to British MPs.

The Ukrainian president pushed for more Western action against Russia and called for humanitarian aid. “Do what you can, do what you must,” he said.

At least 50 children have been killed since the Russian invasion began, according to Ukrainian estimates. “They took our children, simply took them,” Zelenskyy said.

CIA’s procrastination about Putin inability to install puppet gov’t in Kyiv

The CIA, which said few days past that Russian forces had been stalled and would e unable to achieve its its mission Kyiv, Ukrainian capital but shifted after the blockage was broken and city came under intensified bombardment, has again come with with procrastination.

It aid Vladimir Putin is unlikely to be able to install a puppet government, which is likely going to happen after the capture of the seat of power.

Putin’s assumptions about Ukraine before the invasion turned out to be “profoundly flawed”, CIA director William J. Burns reportedly said.

“I fail to see – and our analysts fail to see – how we could sustain a puppet regime or a pro-Russian leadership that he tries to install in the face of what is a massive opposition from Ukrainian people,” Burns said.

The CIA chief predicted an “ugly next few weeks” of fighting as Putin doubles down with force amid Ukrainian resistance.

“The one thing I’m absolutely convinced of, and I think our analysts across the intelligence committee are absolutely convinced of, is the Ukrainians are going to continue to resist fiercely and effectively,” Burns told US lawmakers.