Reporting that the Biden administration is preparing measures that would stop the import of Russian oil to the United States is a stunning turn around. Only a few short months ago, the Biden administration was pleading with Russia, Saudi Arabia, and others to increase production.
The political team around the president was insisting that high prices at the gas pump was political toxin. Russia last year surged to become the second source of imported oil for the United States.
Either the president believes that the American people are prepared to pay a higher price in order to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, or he is prepared to pay the domestic political consequences.
This follows a similar turnaround in Germany. Chancellor Scholz is prepared to accept consequences of higher energy prices. Both of these developments seem to have been unanticipated by the Kremlin.
Update: @reziemba pointing out that while Russian energy may get sanctioned, it isn't today--and apparently USG efforts to encourage entities not to self-sanction ...
https://twitter.com/reziemba/status/1499187905025114115
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