U.S. Gas Price Hike: White House Pins Blame on Russia for Uptick of Gas Price, Calling It 'Putin Spike'

The U.S. gas price hike has been caused by Russian leader Vladimir Putin after states are seeing record-high prices, according to officials.

The White House dubbed the jump in U.S. gas price as "Putin Spike," promising that U.S. President Joe Biden will do everything he can to prevent Americans from experiencing "pain at the pump," according to a Fox News report.

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield tweeted that Putin has been "saber-rattling and gas prices have been going up since he started his military build-up.

Americans are seeing the highest gas prices since the 2008 financial crisis, with the national average gas price reaching more than $4 per gallon.

Biden announced a ban on all imports of Russian, oil, gas, and energy to the U.S. on Tuesday, attacking the "main artery" of Russia's economy amid Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Gas Price Hike 'Putin Spike'

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Americans were facing an increase in gas prices "because of the actions of President Putin," according to The Hill report.

Psaki then went on to say that what is happening is a "Putin Spike" at the gas pump, not one prompted by the U.S. sanctions.

Psaki would not project how high has prices could go in the coming weeks. However, she noted steps like releasing oil from the strategic petroleum reserve and working with other energy suppliers to ensure the disruption to global supply is minimal.

Psaki also argued that the anticipation of the Russian invasion was factored into increasing gas prices when a reporter stated that gas prices were on the rise before the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll noted that 80 percent of respondents said Americans should not buy oil or gas from Russia during the conflict "even if it causes gas prices to increase."

A senior administration official noted that Americans across the country understand that there is a price for the sanctions to put pressure on Putin.

U.S. President Joe Biden Sanctions on Russia

Biden announced on Tuesday a ban on U.S. imports of Russian oil and gas, saying that Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports.

Biden also said that the American people will deal another "powerful blow to Putin's war machine," according to an NPR report.

The president also stated during his ban announcement that defending freedom will have a cost, and that it will cost "us as well in the United States."

However, Biden said that he will do everything to minimize the effect of Putin's price hike in the U.S.

He added that lifting environmental regulations would not up domestic energy production, instead, oil and gas companies have leased millions of acres of U.S. land.

The companies have received permits to drill, but have chosen not to use them for production, according to the president.

One official said that the U.S. and allies need to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and divert to more renewable sources of energy.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: U.S. ban on Russian oil imports will likely hike gas prices - from CBS News