Democrat President Joe Biden said during remarks on Thursday that it was fair for Americans to expect to have to pay record high gas prices for “as long as it takes” for Russia to be defeated in Ukraine, even though gas prices were surging well before the invasion occurred.
Biden made the remarks to reporters during a brief question and answer session while in Madrid at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.
“The war has pushed prices up,” a reporter said. “They could go as high as $200 a barrel, some analysts think.”
“How long is it fair to expect American drivers and drivers around the world to pay that premium for this war?” the reporter asked.
“As long as it takes,” Biden responded, “so Russia cannot in fact defeat Ukraine and move beyond Ukraine. This is a critical, critical position for the world. Here we are. Why do we have NATO? I told Putin that in fact, if he were to move, we would move to strengthen NATO. We would move to strengthen NATO across the board.”
WATCH:
🚨: NY Times' Jim Tankersley asks Biden, "How long is it fair to expect American drivers to pay that premium" for the war in Ukraine?
Biden: "As long as it takes." pic.twitter.com/PnRX95xT48
— John Cooper (@thejcoop) June 30, 2022