WASHINGTON DC – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” as lawmakers pressed him on the Trump administration’s policy to push Ukraine into dialogue with the Russian leader.
Bessent was specifically asked by Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee Task Force on Monetary Policy, during the Committee hearing, whether he would negotiate with a war criminal.
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“I think that’s the nature of diplomacy when one must negotiate with both sides,” Bessent replied. “I believe that negotiation was needed with the Japanese after WWII.”
When asked directly if he considered Putin a war criminal, Bessent replied, “Yes.”
During his testimony, Bessent also spoke about the Trump administration’s policy on leveraging sanctions and “choking off” the financial lifelines of terrorists, criminals, and hackers from Mexico and Guatemala to China and Iran.
When asked about Russia, Bessent highlighted the US response to Moscow’s fossil fuel revenue, which supports its war against Ukraine.
He also went on to criticize the Biden administration’s “weak sanctions” on Russia, noting they only targeted lower-level oil companies and put in place a price cap that failed.
He highlighted the Trump administration’s success in lowering oil prices and the impact of reduced Russian revenue on their war efforts.
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