Bessent: Trump Has Not Lifted Sanctions Against Russia

The US Treasury Secretary criticized Europe for continuing to buy Russian energy and called Zelensky’s Starlink accusations “extremely irresponsible”.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that President Donald Trump has not lifted sanctions on Russia, only the diesel embargo. The secretary made the remarks on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

Bessent said claims that the Trump administration had lifted sanctions on Russia were false. “No sanctions have been lifted,” the secretary said, adding: “The only thing that was lifted is the diesel embargo.”

60-day review period

Bessent said a 60-day period has been set to assess the process of imposing new sanctions on Russia.

The secretary recalled that Trump had imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest energy companies. According to him, this step dealt a “devastating blow” to Russia’s energy sector.

Criticism of Europe

Bessent criticized European countries for continuing to buy Russian energy. According to the secretary, Europeans are sending more money to Russia than to Ukraine.

He said the US provides intelligence support via Starlink and enables NATO members to buy American weapons and deliver them to Ukraine. Bessent said European countries should provide more military support to Ukraine.

Response to Zelensky’s Starlink claims

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had claimed that there were slowdowns in the Starlink satellite internet service and interruptions in intelligence sharing. Bessent said no one in the Trump administration had given such an order and called Zelensky’s accusations “extremely irresponsible.”

Trump had announced a temporary suspension of sanctions

On October 9, Donald Trump announced that, in exchange for a temporary suspension of sanctions, they had agreed with Russia to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel to lower global fuel prices.

The announcement came several weeks after the US Congress passed a bill instructing the president to impose significant tariffs on the largest importers of Russian oil or natural gas.