Tehran, SAEDNEWS: The Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted Thursday and Friday, suggests that the unprecedented US smear campaign against Russia is manufacturing the desired outrage among Americans.
About 74 percent of Americans - both Republicans and Democrats - said the United States and its allies in the NATO should impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine, the poll found.
But it is not clear whether they knew the risks involved in such a measure. Biden has dismissed the notion of no-fly zones because of the risk of “a potential direct war with Russia”.
“The no-fly zone requires implementation. It would require, essentially, the US military shooting down Russian planes and causing or prompting a potential direct war with Russia — the exact step that we want to avoid,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
And, some 80 percent of Americans said the United States should stop buying Russian oil.
The White House on Friday said President Joe Biden is considering cuts to American imports of Russian oil, though he is concerned about a spike in gasoline prices that would add to high inflation.
“We are looking at options we could take right now to cut US consumption of Russian energy, but we are very focused on minimizing the impact to families,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during a briefing Friday afternoon, adding, “If you reduce supply in the global marketplace, you are going to raise gas prices.”
In addition, some 81 percent of Americans think the US should slap more sanctions on Russia, according to the poll.
About 77 percent of the people said Washington should seize the assets of Russian oligarchs associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin announced last week a “special military operation” in Ukraine’s Donbas region to “defend people” subjected to "genocide" there against government forces, stressing that Moscow has “no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory”.
Biden called the Russian action an "unprovoked and unjustified attack", and the American media described it as the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two assault by Russia.
The Biden administration has imposed harsh economic and banking sanctions on Russia in response to Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
Biden said the sanctions would limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
Biden claimed that the only other alternative to the sanctions would be to start a “Third World War” (Source: FARS NEWS).
Russia warns West of dire consequences of its ‘provocations’ over Ukraine
