US working with allies to shore up energy supplies if Russia invades Ukraine

The Biden administration is making contingency plans to shore up Europe's energy supplies should a Russian invasion of Ukraine create gas shortages and roil the global economy, senior administration officials said on Tuesday.

In a briefing with reporters, the officials confirmed CNN's reporting on Sunday that US officials have been in regular discussions with a number of countries and companies in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia about stepping up production of liquefied natural gas to Europe if war breaks out and puts the continent's energy supplies at risk.

"We are working with countries and companies around the world to ensure the continuity of supply" and to mitigate any price shocks that may come from a gas shortage, one of the senior administration officials said. That has included discussions with countries and companies that produce liquid natural gas about increasing their production and diverting supplies to Europe "on a relatively temporary basis" if a crisis breaks out.