Murkowski says banning Russian oil imports worth the ‘hurt’ of higher gas prices

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Wednesday pressed for a stoppage of Russian oil imports even if it drives up U.S. energy prices. 

Murkowski said hitting Russia’s energy sector would be the “most significant” tool and “the one that can do the most immediate damage to Russia in halting their efforts” as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine, according to Politico.

“We are going to see price increases,” Murkowski added. “Nobody wants to see that. And this is going to hurt. But we all need to recognize Europe is in the midst of a war with Russia now. Innocent people are dying, children are dying. We have not been in as volatile as a situation as anytime in my life. And so we are looking right now from a very short window.”

“He [Putin] has used energy as a weapon and we are afraid to have it on the table? I’m sorry, he put it on the table. This is not going to be easy on Europe or the United States. Hopefully it will be most difficult on Russia,” the senator also said.

Together with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Murkowski is working to introduce a bill that prohibits the import of Russian crude oil and petroleum products into the U.S. in response to Russia’s attack.

The Hill has reached out to Murkowski’s office for comment. 

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield earlier this week said “there’s more to come” in terms of sanctions on Russia.

“While energy is not in this current announcement, it doesn’t mean it’s off the table, but we also want to do everything we can to protect our own economy from the impact of this,” Thomas-Greenfield said Sunday during an interview with CNN following the Biden administration’s sanctions on Russia that excluded Moscow’s energy sector.