Biden blames Putin for fuel price hike, orders release of reserve oil to 'ease the pain'

As fuel prices in United States are soaring in backdrop of ongoing Russia Ukraine war, US President Biden on Friday said that to deal with hike in gas and food prices, he h authorised on Thursday release of 1 million barrels per day for next six months from US's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

President Biden blamed rise in gas prices as well as food prices on Russian President Vlimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, Biden said, "Americans are feeling Putin’s gas price hike at pump." 

On Friday, President Biden took to Twitter to ackwledge impact of hike in prices on Americans.

1 Million oil barrels per day for six months

US President Joe Biden authorised release of 1 million oil barrels per day from Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) for six months on Thursday in an effort to curb surging gas prices amid Russia-Ukraine war. Biden's decision is in reaction to increasing fuel and energy costs, which have remained unpredictable since Washington and its allies slapped bro sanctions on Russia. Biden went on to say that depending on furr SPR releases might result in a "pretty considerable" decline in gas costs.

Americans face rising prices at pump

Since Putin revved his military build-up around Ukraine, gas costs have risen by nearly a dollar per gallon (4.54 litre), according to  press release from White House on Thursday. press release said that because of Putin's "war of choice," less oil was reaching US market and causing prices to rise at pump for American people.

"At start of this year, gas was about $3.30 a gallon. Today, it’s over $4.20, an increase of nearly $1.  And w, a significant amount of Russian oil is t making it to market.  President banned import of Russian oil – which Republicans and Democrats in Congress called for and supported," a statement from a Press release from White House.