The Saudi-led OPEC+ decision to cut oil production by two million barrels a day, in a huge boost for Putin ahead of the European oil ban, shows it is aligning with Russia, the US claims.

The Daily Mail website said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre described the decision as a 'mistake' and said it was 'misguided.'

The decision was made earlier after a face-to-face meeting between energy ministers in Vienna.

The website said the move, which also shocked Europe, would bolster Kremlin finances and help Putin weather a looming European ban on oil imports, driving up fuel prices worldwide just as winter is looming. 

It will also further aggravate inflation, which has reached decades-high levels in many countries and hurt European households already struggling with sky-high energy bills. 

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