Trump makes another strong step toward ending the war in Ukraine by pushing Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices.

At the World Economic Forum via teleconference, President Donald Trump said he will demand Saudi Arabia and OPEC reduce the cost of oil and will ask Riyadh to increase a planned US investment package to $1T from an initially reported $600B. His remarks come one day after Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed what the White House called the kingdom’s “international economic ambitions” as well as trade issues.

“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately. Right now, the price is high enough that that war will continue – you got to bring down the oil price,” Trump said, speaking remotely by video link.

“They should have done it long ago. They’re very responsible, actually, to a certain extent, for what’s taking place, millions of lives are being lost”, Trump added.

The Saudi government’s communications office did not immediately return a request for comment on Trump’s remarks at the forum.