Russian invasion of Ukraine could drive up U.S. gas prices – National & International News – FRI 18Feb2022

Russian invasion of Ukraine could drive up U.S. gas prices. Ex-cop who killed black driver gets 24-month sentence. Shelling in eastern Ukraine ramps fears of invasion.

NATIONAL NEWS

Russian invasion of Ukraine could drive up U.S. gas prices

While the escalating tensions in Ukraine may feel very far away, the Biden administration is looking to mitigate a potential consequence for Americans at home- rising gas prices. Gas prices in the U.S. and all over the world have been steadily rising for the last year. If Russia does indeed invade Ukraine, Americans could see prices rise still further.

Russia is an important global supplier of fossil fuels, and its economy is heavily dependent on these exports. That makes sanctions on fossil fuel exports an important pressure point and deterrent. But that pressure goes both ways.

On Tuesday, Biden himself warned Americans of the potential fallout. “I will not pretend this will be painless”, Biden said, “There could be impact on our energy prices. If Russia decides to invade, that would also have consequences here at home. But, the American people understand that defending democracy and liberty is never without cost”.

To offset the costs of fuel and alleviate energy shortages, Congress and the White House are weighing various options. These include a possible gas tax holiday, sourcing more imports from other suppliers, and a push to encourage production and use of renewable energy.

The administration has some limited lead time before potential price hikes in the U.S. But experts have said it’s possible that gas could be “well above” $4 a gallon by the summer.

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Ex-cop who killed black driver gets 24-month sentence

Former Minneapolis-area police officer Kim Potter received a 24-month sentence today for the manslaughter of Daunte Wright.

Last April, Potter pulled over Wright, 20, to cite him for expired tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. She attempted to arrest Wright for an outstanding warrant on a misdemeanor weapons charge. Wright attempted to flee, and Potter attempted to taze him. But instead of her Taser, she pulled her gun and shot him point blank in the abdomen. Wright later died after crashing into an oncoming car. She was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in December.

Potter will serve just 16 months in prison and the rest on supervised release. Judge Regina Chu said she recognized that her sentencing decision would be “unpopular” but that it “does not in any way diminish Daunte Wright’s life”.

Wright’s family and their attorney Benjamin Crump strongly disagreed. 

During his impact statement prior to the sentencing, Wright’s father, Arbuey Wright highlighted Potter’s reckless disregard for his son’s life. “She was a police office longer than my son was alive,” he said. 

Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, reacted tearfully to the lenient sentence, saying “the justice system murdered him all over again”.

Benjamin Crump angrily compared the “slap on the wrist” sentence for Potter, a white woman, to a 57-month sentence for a black Minneapolis officer, Mohammed Noor, who also accidentally fatally shot someone.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Shelling in eastern Ukraine ramps fears of invasion

For the past day, Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have been lobbing shells at Ukrainian military and civilian targets in violation of a 2-year-old ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian officials are accusing the separatists of trying to provoke a military escalation between the two sides. The separatists have also announced a civilian evacuation of the region.

Meanwhile, Biden and other U.S. officials fear that Russia has staged this as a pretext for an invasion. Russian state media has been broadcasting images purporting to be the aftermath of a Ukrainian high-explosive attack in Donetsk, in the same region. In response, the State Department has reiterated its warning that Russia might employ a false-flag tactic to justify escalation. 

U.S. sources say there may be as many as 190,000 Russian military personnel amassed around Ukraine’s borders. The White House and State Department are once again repeating their belief that a full-blown invasion could come at any time. While previous U.S. warnings of an imminent invasions have ultimately proved unfounded, it’s clear that the shelling does mark a concrete escalation.

Earlier today, Vladimir Putin announced military drills to take place tomorrow, which may include ballistic and cruise missile launches. As a BBC commentator put it, “It feels, increasingly, as if the Kremlin is trolling the West”.

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