US Vows to End ‘Weaponization’ of Russian Oil with Strategic Reserve Release

The U.S. vowed on March 1 to release 30 million barrels of oil as part of a global 60 million barrel pledge in an effort to shore up energy markets amid the ongoing Russia invasion of Ukraine, and said it could take further steps as needed.

“We are prepared to use every tool available to us to limit disruption to global energy supply as a result of [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin’s actions,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

“We will also continue our efforts to accelerate diversification of energy supplies away from Russia and to secure the world from Moscow’s weaponization of oil and gas," the statement added.