{O/C} Knowing that his country's economy is on the receiving end of the ceaseless Russian invasion had Russia's President demanding "unfriendly" countries pay rubles for gas.
And in the United States, it is the same gripe about Putin's mendacious demeanour that has cast a pall over the nation.
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The latest demand that Russian natural gas be paid for using rubles has fuelled a debate over Moscow's intention to shield Russia's ruble from that hammer blow.
Putin even threatened to cut off gas supplies if buyers refuse to pay using rubles.
European leaders are crying foul, insisting they'll continue using euros and dollars to pay for their gas supplies as the decree flies in the face of existing rules.
Putin had already announced last week the decree demanding "unfriendly" countries pay for natural gas in Russian currency only.
Concerning stratospheric oil prices, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation's strategic petroleum reserve for six months in an effort to rein in oil prices that have skyrocketed following stiff sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
While there's no telling how much gas prices will fall, gas is averaging around 4.23 USD a gallon, compared with 2.87 dollars a year ago.
Over in Washington, the White House denied goading Russia over the war.
{Soundbite} KATE BEDINGFIELD, White House Director of Communications: Everything that we are doing here is designed to advance our ultimate strategic aim, which is strengthening Ukraine on the battlefield, strengthening their hand at the negotiating table, giving them what they need to push back on Russian aggression.
The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, maintains Putin having lost the plot at first because of his advisers is plausible.
{Soundbite} NED PRICE, State Department Spokesperson: There is good reason to believe he may feel misled even prior to the invasion. Why else would he undertake an invasion that was quite clear would precipitate a whole series of consequences that we laid out in advance? He clearly miscalculated if he thought his forces would be able to achieve a quick tactical victory.
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