In the US, Republican senators have said they would support a short-term lifting of the government's borrowing limit, in order to avoid a damaging default on October 18. In response, the White House said on Wednesday that no formal offer had yet been made. Spokesperson Jen Psaki urged senators not to "kick the can down the road" with a temporary solution. Also today, Russia's President Vladimir Putin could increase gas supplies to Europe to alleviate a spike in prices.