“Putin’s weaponizing of energy is only strengthening our unity and resolve in the face of Putin’s aggression,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday when commenting on Europe’s increasing concerns over potential energy crisis, TURAN’s Washington correspondent reports.

President Biden and the leaders of European partners “predicted this [Putin’s] playbook”, the press secretary said.

“The President and EU President von der Leyen set up a joint task force back in March. And we have been working for months to increase alternative sources of natural gas to Europe and help reduce Europe’s demand for Russian energy through increased efficiency and clean energy deployment,” she added.

Yet, there’s more work that needs to be done, she added. “We’re going to continue to work closely with our allies in looking for ways to increase gas stockpiles in Europe and to help bolster other sources of energy where possible”

The White House’s comments came as the Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the European allies on Friday to “stand firm” against Putin’s efforts to “bully” them this winter by manipulating energy prices.

“President Putin is betting that these actions will break the will of countries to stand with Ukraine,” Blinken said. “He’s betting that the Kremlin can bully other countries into submission.”

Blinken spoke in Brussels following his a surprise visit to Kyiv, where he announced $675 million in additional military assistance for Ukraine amid the war.

The U.S, he said, would help European nations facing exorbitant heating costs as colder weather descends on the continent. “We won’t leave our European friends out in the cold.”

Blinken also said he believed there was “a growing recognition around the world that, while the costs of standing up to the Kremlin’s aggression are high, the cost of standing down will be even higher.”

Source: Turan News Agency