Ukraine Crisis | Zelenskyy urges US lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gas sector
Published:Saturday | March 5, 2022 | 3:58 PM
WASHINGTON — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged United States lawmakers to sanction Russia's oil and gas sector and suspend credit card access.
He also backed an idea to ban Russian oil imports to the US that's been gaining support in Congress.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said Zelenskyy emphasised during a private call Saturday with the US lawmakers that the energy sector needs to be sanctioned.
“Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin," Graham said in a video.
During the call, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning Russian oil to the US, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the private call.
Zelenskyy indicated he was 100% on board with banning Russian oil to the US and told the senators it would be very helpful, the people said.
Zelenskyy also asked them to suspend access to Visa and Mastercard credit cards in Russia, according to another person who was granted anonymity to discuss the call.
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