US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Washington and European allies are coordinating additional sanctions and secondary tariffs targeting Russia, aiming to weaken its economy enough to push Vladimir Putin toward negotiations with Ukraine. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Bessent emphasized that while the US is ready to escalate economic pressure, cooperation from European partners is essential for maximum impact. He noted that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance held discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier in the week, followed by a separate conversation between von der Leyen and himself focused on aligning sanction strategies. The goal remains to induce significant economic strain in Russia without direct military escalation.
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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.