Britain wants every country to do away with using Russian oil and gas because it directly funds President Vladimir Putin’s war machine, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.
The spokesperson added that in India’s proposed move to buy crude from Russia, the UK prime minister respects the individual position of each country but wants to broaden the coalition of nations against the actions of the Russian President in Ukraine.
The spokesman told PTI at a Downing Street that Boris Johnson, the UK’s Prime Minister, wants every country to move away from using Russian oil and gas.
Further, the spokesperson emphasizes that we understand that different countries have different situations, each country is in a different condition, and we respect that. But of course, the prime minister wants to broaden the coalition of countries so that everyone is united in condemnation and action against President Putin.
Johnson is in talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on a trip to the region to form an international coalition against Russia and cut reliance on its oil and gas exports in the face of the conflict.
PM Johnson further held that the countries engaged with Russia need to avoid being blackmailed by shutting down Russia’s fossil fuels and exploring other partnerships.
The UK is building an international coalition to tackle the new reality. The world must wean itself from Russian hydrocarbons and starve Putin’s addiction to oil and gas. Ahead of his visit to the Middle East, he said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are key international partners in that effort.
At the same time, he also emphasized that countries should also think about “where you want to stand” amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
