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Russian President Vladimir Putin. File photo: via AP

Kremlin praises Opec+ for countering US ‘mayhem’ in energy markets

  • Opec+ decision to cut oil production despite US opposition has strained already tense relationship between US and Saudi Arabia
  • Kremlin praised the ‘balanced, thoughtful’ work of ‘countries which take responsible position within Opec’ and are ‘opposed’ to US’ actions
Russia

The Kremlin on Sunday praised Opec+ for agreeing production cuts that had successfully countered the “mayhem” sown by the United States in global energy markets.

The Opec+ decision to cut oil production despite stiff US opposition has further strained already tense relations between President Joe Biden’s White House and Saudi Arabia’s royal family.

The White House pushed hard to prevent the output cut. Biden hopes to keep US gasoline prices from spiking again ahead of midterm elections in which his Democratic party is struggling to maintain control of the US Congress.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was good that such “balanced, thoughtful and planned work of the countries, which take a responsible position within Opec, is opposed to the actions of the US”.

“This at least balances the mayhem that the Americans are causing,” Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said a decision by Opec+ to cut oil production was “unhelpful and unwise” for the global economy, the Financial Times reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Argentina in 2018. Photo: Reuters

Peskov said that the United States had begun to lose its composure over the Opec decision and was even trying to push additional volumes of its reserves into the market.

“They are trying to manipulate with their oil reserves by throwing additional volumes into the market. Such a game will not lead to anything good,” Peskov said.

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