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The United States is hosting a series of G20 meetings on Monday, one of which promotes the concept of 'energy abundance', as the Middle East war continues to destabilize global oil markets.
These meetings are scheduled to continue until Wednesday in Houston, Texas, a U.S. state rich in oil.
Delegations from the world's largest economies are participating in the meetings, including China, India, Japan, and Germany, alongside major oil producers such as Canada and Saudi Arabia.
Russian diplomats indicated on Saturday that Moscow will also send some officials.
At the beginning of September, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov participated in a G20 meeting in North Carolina at the invitation of Washington, a move that angered Ukraine's European allies.
These allies expressed disappointment over the U.S. decision to invite Russia, considering it contrary to efforts to isolate Moscow due to its invasion of its neighbor.
The Houston meetings come amid a sharp rise in oil and gas prices due to the Iran war, while Europe struggles to fill gas facilities in preparation for winter.
One of Washington's stated priorities as the host of the G20 meetings is to expand access to affordable, reliable, and safe energy, but supplies have been significantly affected since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February.
The United States has seen a rocketing rise in fuel prices, with the price of a gallon (3.78 liters) of diesel reaching a record high, currently averaging $6.20, according to the American Automobile Association.
Regular gasoline prices have also risen by 44% from before the war broke out.
This unpopular war and its aftermath have raised concerns among the Republican Party, to which Trump belongs, of potentially suffering a defeat in the midterm elections scheduled for November.
The U.S. President has accused Iran of expanding the war to politically harm him, claiming recently that the war will end 'immediately' after the elections.
Trump also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of causing a shortage of diesel supplies by launching attacks on Russian refineries.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who played a pivotal role in Washington's energy dealings with Venezuela, is expected to attend the Houston meetings, along with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
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