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- Bessent warns ‘all options are on the table’ for Russia sanctions (foxbusiness.com)
Washington D.C. – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sat down with Fox News Senior National Correspondent Rich Edson at Martin’s Tavern, stating that “all options are on the table” regarding potential sanctions against Russia. This comes as Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine, despite recent peace talks.
Secretary Bessent expressed his disappointment with President Putin’s actions following the meeting in Anchorage and subsequent discussions with European leaders and President Zelensky. “President Putin…has done the opposite of following through on what he indicated he wanted to do,” Bessent stated. He condemned the intensified bombing campaign as “despicable.”
Bessent emphasized that the Trump administration is seriously considering all possible responses. “I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think we’ll be examining those very closely this week,” he confirmed.
This statement follows recent missile and drone attacks by Russia on Ukraine, resulting in at least 17 deaths, including four children, and 48 injuries in Kyiv. Experts suggest these attacks may indicate Putin is using diplomatic talks as a cover to continue his offensive while avoiding further sanctions threatened by the Trump administration.
Secretary Bessent also addressed the U.S.-India relationship, strained by recent U.S. tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil. While acknowledging India’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting with Russia and China, Bessent downplayed its significance, calling it “largely performative.”
He expressed confidence in the shared values between the U.S. and India, stating, “I think at the end of the day, two great countries will get this solved.” However, he criticized India’s role in “buying Russian oil and then reselling it, financing the Russian war effort in Ukraine,” citing it as a contributing factor to the tariffs alongside slow progress in trade talks.
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- Bessent warns ‘all options are on the table’ for Russia sanctions (foxbusiness.com)