ABC’s Jonathan Karl: It’s ‘extraordinary’ that Biden is sanctioning ‘everything but’ Russian oil

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(Video Credit: ABC’s “This Week”)

ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl appeared on “This Week” Sunday commenting on President Joe Biden’s new sanctions against Russia over invading Ukraine, stating that it was “extraordinary” that the administration was sanctioning everything but oil which is “the thing that drives their economy.”

“Back to the key issue here which is the question of the — of banning the import of oil and gas from Russia. You know, it is not insignificant,” he noted during the segment.

“We actually take in more petroleum from Russia than we do from Saudi Arabia. So the ban will result in — and also obviously affects the world’s supply as well. So you’ll see oil will go from about $100 a barrel to $150, maybe $200 a barrel. But it’s extraordinary, George, for all of the — the sanctions that have been imposed, and they have been unprecedented on Russia, to sanction everything but the thing that drives their economy,” Karl said.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also appeared on the show and quoted the late Republican Senator John McCain on Russian oil.

“John McCain used to say that Russia was a gas station masquerading as a country. And it was a great line. That’s all they have,” Christie proclaimed in response to Secretary of State Antony Blinken claiming that there was “no strategic interest” in banning Russian oil.

Blinken made the media rounds on Sunday again, appearing on “Meet the Press” to claim that the Biden administration was in “active” talks with European countries concerning a ban on Russian oil imports. The change in stance comes after a massive outcry from Americans over the United States continuing to import oil from Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

(Video Credit: ABC News)

(Video Credit: MSNBC)

President Biden is baffling many on the issue. While he refuses to open the Keystone Pipeline, tap gas resources, drill for more oil, and ramp up independent energy production, he is instead still importing Russian oil, courting Venezuela, and turning to Iran and Suadi Arabia for more oil.

The call for a ban on Russian oil is coming from both sides of the political aisle putting intense pressure on Biden to carry through on the demand. He appears to have been reluctant to ban Russian oil because it would cause gas prices in the United States to skyrocket even further since he is evidently intent on not restoring energy independence in America. Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) claimed she was “all for” the banning of Russian oil last week.

Former DNC Chair and ABC News contributor Donna Brazile stated on “This Week,” “Perhaps there will be a conversation this week about stopping the import of Russian oil and gas. Although it’s a very small percentage, it will send — I think it will send the energy prices sky-high, and they’re already sky-high.”

On the Republican side of the aisle, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced a bill on Tuesday that would ban the importation of gas and petroleum products from Russia, according to Fox News. The bill is backed by Energy Committee GOP Leader Sen. John Barrasso along with at least seven other Republicans in the upper chamber.

“First and foremost, President Biden needs to restart America’s energy production and quit funding Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine by continuing to purchase crude oil from Russia,” Marshall declared.

Earlier in a “This Week” segment, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) bluntly stated, “And, by the way, this notion that somehow banning Russian oil would raise prices on American consumers is an admission that this guy, that this killer, that this butcher, Vladimir Putin, has leverage over us. Why would we want that leverage to continue? Why would we have someone like him to have the power to raise gas prices on Americans which is basically if he cuts us off, what would happen in the reverse? So, I think we have enough that we should produce more American oil and buy less Russian oil or none — actually, none at all.”

(Video Credit: Senator Marco Rubio)

Russia is facing a myriad of crippling economic sanctions. Switzerland, a once neutral playing field for everyone, has now announced it will freeze Russian accounts. American Express, Visa, and Mastercard have all suspended operations in Russia. Many banks across the planet have now frozen accounts and banned Russian transactions. Russia has also been banned from the SWIFT banking system. However, they have their own currency services that they are using as well as Chinese alternatives that are available.

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