WATCH: Psaki explains why there are no Biden sanctions on Russian energy sector

The Biden administration addressed the reasons for the US decision not to sanction the Russian energy sector, while other sectors of the Russian economy are being sanctioned by the US and its allies.

"I mean, even if you look at the impact on the energy sector, you know," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday, "we have taken steps. We have not taken some steps on energy sanctions, in part because we weigh that."

"It doesn't mean that they're off the table that remain, they remain on the table, but Europeans, for example, are very concerned about further price spikes on gas in particular," she went on.

"Their prices have gone up 335 percent over the last three years, over the last year and 26 percent over the last five days. So sanctioning energy would affect Russia's income stream, certainly that would be a reason to do it. But it would also have extreme consequences on the world energy markets, particularly for our allies in Europe.

"So I use that as an example because we have to weigh all the factors as we weigh whether to take additional steps we have to take but we consider all those factors as we make determinations."

Psaki was asked by Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich if the US would commit to stop buying Russian gas. "After all this, what is the stance of the US on buying Russian gas at this point? At this point, are we ready to pledge not to buy any more Russian gas?"

"Well, as you know," Psaki replied, "it's really, let me give you actually kind of an update on this because I think there's been a little confusion," Psaki rifled through her binder looking for her notes on the topic.

"So as it relates to Russian gas, the US government doesn't dictate where the US market sells our own oil and gas products nor where acquires crude or refined products from, for domestic consumption. This is all up to the private sector, other than exceptions like countries under sanctions. So the US refiners currently importing Russian products are largely legacy refinery operations, I'm told, in Hawaii and Alaska for certain supply because of geography and imports to the Gulf.

"Both have certain refined products and if crude as refiners in the Gulf, mixed crude supplies to meet the needs of their particular refinery designs. There have been companies, obviously private sector companies, who have made decisions and announcements and we certainly applaud that," Psaki said.

Heinrich sought a follow-up, saying: "So I'm a little bit unclear. Just in layman's terms: We are not going to be making any policy from the US government that would prohibit the sale or the purchase of Russian gas and because it's not something that we already do?"

"We haven't ruled out that," Psaki said, "but I think what I wanted to convey is what is accurate about what happens now and how it currently works."

NBC's Kristen Welker stuck with that topic, asking: "You said that nothing is off the table when it comes to releasing more reserves, more barrels," from the petroleum reserves. "Is the administration closer to moving forward with that, given the sanctions and what we're seeing?"

"I don't have anything to preview for you on that front," Psaki said. "It remains an option on the table and obviously would help meet any supply issues in the marketplace. There are conversations that we've been having with global partners and obviously we have our own strategic petroleum reserves stockpile to tap into."

"Are you close to making a decision on that front," Welker asked, "given what we are seeing, and obviously the global impact?"

"It has remained on the table," Psaki said. "I just don't have anything to predict for you at this point in time."