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Sources say the US move after Russia, the EU’s largest energy supplier, gathered troops on the Ukrainian border.
U.S. officials are in talks with Qatar to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European countries if the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to a shortage of the continent, news reports say.
Two people on the subject esana Bloomberg President Joe Biden planned to request a visit from the Gulf State Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to the White House, perhaps later this month. He added that the meeting between Biden and Sheikh Tamim was working.
They are the United States worried Russia is preparing for a new military offensive against the country, which was partially invaded in 2014, and Moscow denies any plans to attack Ukraine.
The European Union is dependent on Russia for about a third of its gas supply, and the United States may suspend its supply as a result of any conflict.
Russia’s suspension of gas supplies to Europe would exacerbate the energy crisis caused by low fuel prices.
State Department talks with energy companies were led by Amos Hochstein, chief energy security adviser, a senior U.S. State Department official told Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.
“The United States has promised to turn its back on Europe in the event of a power shortage due to conflict or sanctions,” another source told the agency.
“Amos will go to major LNG companies and countries like Qatar to see if they can help the United States,” he added, referring to Hochstein.
Qatar authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russian expansion to the border
Moscow has worried the West gathering troops He has been close to Ukraine for the past two months after taking over the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine in 2014 and supporting separatists fighting troops in eastern Ukraine in Kiev.
Biden has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a new Russian move on Ukraine will impose sanctions and increase the US presence in Europe.
Russia denies plans to attack Ukraine and says it has the right to move its troops.
On the other hand, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to know In Geneva on Friday, the former called it a “critical moment” of the crisis.
Senior diplomats said they were open to further talks after the talks showed no sign of progress.
About 40 percent of EU natural gas supplies come from Russia, most of which come from Ukraine.
Qatar is one of the largest producers of LNG, and most of its fuel is sold to East Asian countries.
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