Saudi Arabia resisting US requests to pump more oil amid Ukraine crisis: report

The White House reportedly sent two officials to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to pressure it into boosting its oil production as fears grow that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could see energy prices soar.

A White House official told CNN that Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, and Amos Hochstein, the State Department’s Special Envoy for International Energy, were in the Saudi capital in an attempt to strengthen relations on a larger scale, but "also to pressure Saudi officials to pump more crude oil and stabilise markets."

The official said the Saudis are "resisting any changes in production," in line with their commitments to OPEC+.

The visit came after the phone call between US President Joe Biden and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz last week to discuss the stability of global energy supplies, according to a White House statement.

Biden on Tuesday said the energy crisis could get worse in the event Russia did attack Ukraine, adding that the invasion was unlikely to be "painless" for Americans.

"There could be impact on our energy prices," he said. "So, we are taking active steps to alleviate the pressure on our own energy markets to offset raising prices."