According to the Hill, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are leading the charge on a bipartisan effort to ban Russian energy imports in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The Senators have introduced the Banning Russian Energy Imports Act with support from 18 additional Senators.

The United States has the ability to backfill and help all of our allies around the world as they [Russia] use this energy as a weapon,” Manchin said at a press conference Thursday. “We have to make sure that we’re doing ours [energy production]. We do it cleaner than anybody else. We do it in a better fashion anybody else. And we have the ability with a reserve to do much more during this crisis.”

Manchin shared a similar message on Twitter:

“Energy has become a weapon of war for Vladimir Putin. My bipartisan, bicameral Ban Russian Energy Imports Act will hit Putin where it hurts by banning all imports of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, LNG and coal. #BanRussianImports #StandWithUkraine”

@Sen_JoeManchin
WATCH: Energy has become a weapon of war for Vladimir Putin. My bipartisan, bicameral Ban Russian Energy Imports Act will hit Putin where it hurts by banning all imports of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, LNG and coal.

Meanwhile, the White House seems unlikely to play hardball with Putin, opposing an import ban. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says, “It’s as simple as less supply raises prices, and that is certainly a big factor for the president at this moment,” Psaki told reporters Thursday.

The Hill
@thehill
Manchin and Murkowski lead bipartisan bill to ban Russian energy imports