Scott Bessent requires secondary tariffs on Russian oil importers to convey President Vladimir Putin ‘to the desk’.
Revealed On 7 Sep 2025
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signalled that Washington is able to tighten sanctions on Russia and urged European allies to assist “collapse” the Russian financial system by pressuring international locations that proceed to purchase Moscow’s oil.
Chatting with NBC Information on Sunday, Bessent stated the battle has develop into “a race now between how lengthy can the Ukrainian navy maintain up, versus how lengthy can the Russian financial system maintain up”.
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In response to Bessent, further sanctions and secondary tariffs on nations importing Russian crude would push the Russian financial system “into complete collapse” and convey President Vladimir Putin “to the desk”.
“We’re ready to extend strain on Russia, however we’d like our European companions to observe us,” stated Bessent.
The warning comes a month after the administration of US President Donald Trump slapped 50 % tariffs on India over its continued purchases of Russian oil, among the many steepest levies Washington has imposed on any nation.
Hours earlier than Bessent’s remarks, Russia carried out what Ukrainian officers described as its largest air assault for the reason that invasion started in 2022. The in a single day strikes killed at the very least 4 folks and ignited a authorities constructing in Kyiv.
US Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg condemned the assault on Sunday, writing on X that Moscow “seems to be escalating with the most important assault of the struggle, hitting places of work of the UKR Cupboard in Kyiv.”
“The assault was not a sign that Russia desires to diplomatically finish this struggle,” he added.
Trump additionally hinted on Sunday at a harder stance, suggesting he was ready to escalate sanctions in opposition to Moscow or its oil consumers.
Requested on the White Home whether or not he was prepared to maneuver to “the second section” of sanctions, the US president replied, “Yeah, I’m,” however declined to offer particulars.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to extend strain on Russia, however has stopped in need of committing to particular measures, at the same time as he struggles to ship on guarantees to finish the struggle rapidly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the prospect of penalties on states nonetheless doing enterprise with Moscow.
In an interview with ABC on Sunday, he stated: “I’m very grateful to all of the companions, however a few of them, I imply, they proceed [to] purchase oil and Russian gasoline and this isn’t honest… I believe the thought to place tariffs on the international locations that proceed make offers with Russia, I believe that is the precise thought.”
For months, Trump has been pushing to discover a diplomatic decision to the battle, to no avail.
Final week, he travelled to Alaska for his first assembly with Putin since beginning his second time period. Shortly afterwards, he hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington for discussions on ending the struggle.
However optimism for peace has since pale, with Russia persisting in its bombardment of Ukrainian cities.
