U.S. Treasury Secretary Suggests Further Sanctionsโ Could Force Russiaโ to Negotiate
WASHINGTON – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated Sunday that increased economic โpressure from the United States and Europe, specifically through sanctions and secondary duties on countries purchasing โฃRussian oil, could compel Russian President Vladimir Putinโค to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine.
According to a Reutersโ report carried by the TASR news agency, bessent indicatedโฃ that a complete collapse of the russian economy is a potential outcome of stricter sanctions. He argued this economic hardship could be the catalyst for Putin to return to the negotiating table. The comments come as frustration mounts over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a situation former President Trump had claimed he could resolveโฃ quickly upon taking โoffice in January.
“If the US โand (the European Union) manage to introduce further sanctions, secondary dutiesโค to countries thatโ buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will entirely collapse and this will bring โPresident Putin to the negotiating table,” Bessent said on NBC television.
Bessent emphasized the need for European cooperation, stating, “We need our European โpartners to follow us, as if the US and the EU do it together, it will decide weather to last a longer Ukrainianโ army or the Russian economy.” While the Biden administration has not yet โฃimposed new sanctions on Russia or China – a major buyer ofโข Russian oil – it has increased duties on imports from India, another important customer of Russian energy resources.