<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that Western plans to introduce oil price caps could have "grave consequences" for energy markets, speaking during a telephone conversation with Iraq's prime minister.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Vladimir Putin stressed that such actions are contrary to the principles of market relations and are highly likely to lead to grave consequences for global energy markets," the Kremlin said in a readout of the Russian leader's call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Kremlin said both sides had also spoken positively of the two countries' work within the framework of OPEC + which helps "stabilise the world oil market."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Western countries have pummelled Russia with unprecedented sanctions after Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday, the US Treasury Department said that Washington and its allies were now planning to finalise a price cap for Russian oil in "the next few days," as they seek to cut off a critical source of funding for Moscow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The price cap would be the basis for a ban set to take effect on December 5, which would ban firms from transporting or providing insurance for Russian oil shipments sold above the fixed price. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>