Kremlin says United States waging 'economic war' against Moscow over Ukraine operation

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had been, is and would be a reliable energy supplier and pointed out that energy flows continued. "But you see the bacchanalia, the hostile bacchanalia, which the West has sown - and that, of course, makes the situation very difficult and forces us to think seriously," Peskov said.

LONDON: The Kremlin on Wednesday said that the United States has declared an “economic war” on Russia and that Moscow would think seriously about what to do after US President Joe Biden imposed a ban on Russian oil and other energy imports.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had been, is and would be a reliable energy supplier and pointed out that energy flows continued. "But you see the bacchanalia, the hostile bacchanalia, which the West has sown - and that, of course, makes the situation very difficult and forces us to think seriously," Peskov said.

"The United States definitely has declared economic war against Russia and is waging this war," he said.

In a bid to further punish Russia over the Ukraine invasion, President Joe Biden had on Tuesday announced a ban on US imports of Russian oil, gas and energy, in the administration's most far-reaching action yet to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine.

"We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at US ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to (President Vladimir) Putin," Biden said in an address from the White House, adding that the decision was taken "in close consultation" with allies.