U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that American and European officials are coordinating plans for additional sanctions and secondary tariffs targeting Russia. The goal is to weaken the Russian economy to the point of collapse, which Bessent believes could compel Vladimir Putin to enter peace negotiations with Ukraine.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Bessent emphasized the need for allied cooperation. “We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our partners in Europe to follow,” he said. He confirmed that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance held discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, followed by a separate conversation between von der Leyen and himself regarding the proposed measures.
— news from Bloomberg.com
— News Original —
Bessent Says Russian Economic Woes Can Bring Putin to Table
The US and Europe are discussing a new round of sanctions and secondary tariffs on Russia, hoping that a Russian economic “collapse” will bring Vladimir Putin to peace talks with Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. n n“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our partners in Europe to follow,” Bessent said in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. He said that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance spoke to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, and she later spoke to Bessent about sanctions.