Boris Johnson has declared Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates "key international partners" in efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy after the invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Minister argued it is necessary to strengthen ties with the nations to tackle Russian President Vladimir Putin and is going to ask to help bring down world oil prices
Battling the cost-of-living crisis being compounded by the West weaning itself off Russia's oil and gas, the Prime Minister is seeking to boost Gulf oil production to alleviate soaring price .amid growing concern about the impact of the Ukraine crisis on oil prices.
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But critics have questioned the choice to particularly strengthen ties with Mohammed bin Salman, with the Saudi leader having been implicated in the assassination of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that "going cap in hand from dictator to dictator is not an energy strategy".
In a statement ahead of setting off on Tuesday evening, Mr Johnson said: "The UK is building an international coalition to deal with the new reality we face. The world must wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons and starve Putin's addiction to oil and gas.

"Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are key international partners in that effort. We will work with them to ensure regional security, support the humanitarian relief effort and stabilise global energy markets for the longer term."
It comes as families saw the average price of petrol at forecourts hit a record 163.5p per litre this week, up from 148.0p just a month ago - while diesel was at 173.4p, up from 151.6p a month ago.
The high costs mean it's worth looking around for the best prices when looking to fill up your car – supermarket forecourts usually offer the cheapest fuel prices. This is because of the market power supermarkets hold – the big names like Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are all in competition with one another so they keep fuel prices as low as possible hoping that when motorists come to fill their tank they might do their weekly grocery shopping too.
What should be done to keep the cost of petrol and diesel down? Have your say in the comments section.
But how have the price increases affected the cost of petrol where you live? We checked the latest prices of unleaded as recorded on petrol station comparison website PetrolPrices.com.
It is worth noting that the website relies on users submitting prices therefore the price recorded on the site for each station may slightly differ from the actual price depending on how recent the last submission for that station was.
Here are the cheapest and most expensive places to fill up with unleaded within five miles of your local area.
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Cardiff

Cheapest:
156.7p - Morrisons, Newport Road, CF23 9AQ
156.7p - Morrisons, International Drive, Cardiff Bay, CF11 0JP
- 157.7p - Morrisons, Ty Glas, CF14 5EP
- 157.9p - Texaco Three Arches Services, Heathwood Road, CF14 4HT
158.9p - M4 Cardiff Gate Welcome Break Motorway Service area, junction 30 Cardiff Gate, CF23 8RA
Most expensive:
- 169.9p - Texaco, Tudor Street,CF11 6AF
167.9p - Park White Dove Service Station, Hadfield Road, CF11 8WD
Swansea

Cheapest:
122.5p - Esso Cross, Swansea Road, SA4 9AQ
155.8p - Texaco Conway, Pentregethin Road, SA5 8AQ
157.0p - Texaco Broadway Service Station, Cockett Road, SA2 0FD
157.9p - Texaco Eagle Service Station, Llangyfelach Road, SA5 9AX
157.9p - Esso Dunvant, Goetre Fawr Road, SA2 7QT
Most expensive:
- 183.9p M4 Swansea Moto Motorway Service Area, M4 J47, SA4 9GT
- 175.9p - Newton Garage, Newton Road, SA3 4ST
Newport

Cheapest:
- 155.9p - Morrisons Cwmbran, St David's Road, NP44 3XU
- 157.7p - Morrisons Rogerstone, Azalea Road, NP10 9SA
159.9p - Sainsbury's Newport, Albany Street, NP20 5NG
159.9p - Jet Spar Service Station, Ponthir Road, NP18 3NY
159.9p - Sainsbury's Cwmbran, Llwelyn Road, NP44 1UL
Most expensive:
- 171..9p - BP Malpas Connect, Malpas Road, NP20 6NF
- 168.9p - Gulf, Chepstow Road, NP18 2JN.
Rhondda Cynon Taf

Cheapest:
159.9p - Murco Ferndale, CF43 4ST
159.9p - Texaco Porth, CF39 9SH
159.9p - Arya Service Station, Harvest Energy Mountain Ash, Main Road, CF45 4LJ
160.7p - ASDA Tonypandy, CF40 2JQ
160.7p - Asda Aberdare, Tirfounder Fields, CF44 0BE.
Most expensive:
- 165.9p - Texaco Aberdare, CF44 0PN
- 165.9p - Gulf, Aberdare, CF44 0AG
Bridgend

Cheapest:
155.8p - Applegreen Bridgend, CF31 1TZ
155.9p- Murco Pen y Fai Service Station, Tondu Road, CF31 4L
157.9p - Sainsburys Bridgend, CF32 9ST
158.9p - M4 Sarn services, CF32 9SY
159.9p - Tesco Brigend, Brewery Lane, CF31 4A
Most expensive:
164.9p - Texaco Crossroads Filling Station, A473, CF35 5HY
163.9p - Texaco Coychurch Road, CF35 5NH
Carmarthen

Cheapest:
- 158.9p - Murco Johnstown Service Station, Old St Clears Road, SA31 3HL
- 159.9p - Murco Derwydd Garage, A484, SA33 6TP
- 160.9p - Texaco Towy Service Station, The Bridge, SA31 2BN.
Most expensive:
- 165.9p - Whitemill Service Station, A40, SA32 7EN
- 165.9p - Texaco Tenby Road Service Station, Llysonnen Road, SA33 5DT
Wrexham

Cheapest:
- 156.7p - Morrisons Wrexham, Ruthin Road, LL13 7TU
- 156.9P - Nisa, Taurus Service Station, LL13 9EB
- 156.9p - Plas Acton Garage, Chester Road, LL12 8DU
Most expensive:
- 165.9p - Shell Holt Road Services, LL13 9SB
- 164.9p - Caergwrle Filling Sation, Mold Road, LL12 9LN
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