The White House claimed that Russia's decision to cut oil production, which has led to a rise in raw material prices, stemmed from "Russia's use of oil as a weapon."

The coordinator of strategic communications at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said during a press conference, broadcast by Yahoo Finance, that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, "uses energy as a weapon again," considering that this step is not surprising by Russia, as a reaction to the price ceiling imposed, on Russian oil prices.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on Friday a voluntary cut in Russian oil production by 500,000 barrels per day.

Novak explained that Moscow's decision to reduce its oil production is due to its ban on the sale of its oil products to countries involved in imposing the price ceiling on its products, directly or indirectly.

It is noteworthy that the European ban on the import of Russian oil products entered into force on February 5, and the G7 countries imposed a price ceiling on Russian oil products when purchased from third countries.

For its part, Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it will not supply its oil or oil products to countries or parties that will adhere to the price cap.

Earlier this month, the Russian presidential decree, which prohibits Russian companies from supplying Russian oil and its derivatives to any foreign parties that want to buy oil with contracts that comply with the price ceiling, entered into force.