A sign at the Petrobras office in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro. File photoMOSCOW, May 10U.S. officials asked Brazilian state oil company Petrobras in March to increase oil production amid rising energy prices due to the situation in Ukraine, but they were denied, Reuters reported. citing informed sources. According to sources, company representatives explained their refusal by saying that regulating the level of oil production is a matter of business strategy, not diplomacy. In addition, a short-term increase in oil production is not possible from a logistical point of view, Petrobras noted.World Bank Expects Record High Commodity Prices to Continue Brazilian state-owned Petrobras told Reuters that it had not met with «representatives of the US State Department.» The State Department said it was working with energy companies to increase energy supplies. «We, along with our allies and partners, are doing everything possible to mitigate the economic impact of Russia's actions on other economies, such as Brazil. We are working with energy companies to increase their capacity to supply energy to the market, especially as prices rise,» The agency cites a statement from the US State Department, noting that the March meeting with representatives of Petrobras was not mentioned in any way in the commentary. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the White House «unsuccessfully» tried to arrange telephone conversations between US President Joe Biden and the «de facto» leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as Washington tries to bolster international support for Russia's standoff and contain oil prices. rateAccording to the publication, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman and Crown Prince of the UAE Capital Emirate Mohammed bin Zeid refused to talk to Biden, and both countries decided not to increase oil production and stick to a plan approved by OPEC and a group of producers led by the Russian Federation. On March 8, the United States imposed a ban on the import of Russian oil, a number of petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal. Following the UK announced that by the end of 2022 it will stop importing oil and oil products from Russia.
