Scott Bessent responded in this way in an interview for CBS television to the claims of Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who assured that the Russian economy is resistant to sanctions and that their result will only be higher gasoline prices in the US. The US Treasury Secretary called Dmitriev a “propagandist” and said the Russian economy was not immune.
-I think so Russia will feel the pain immediately. I can tell you that India has already completely stopped purchasing Russian oil. Many Chinese refineries have suspended them. Margaret, are you really going to publish what the Russian propagandist says? Because what else can he say? That “oh, this is terrible, and this will bring Putin to the negotiating table”? Bessent said ironically.
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What are the forecasts for Russia's revenues from oil exports?
What did Bessent say about the Russian economy?
What agreement has been reached with China?
Will sanctions on Russian oil companies affect gasoline prices in the US?
US Treasury Secretary: We are doing everything to bring Putin to negotiations
— Of course — the Russian economy is a war economy. Economic growth is virtually zero. Inflation, I believe, is over 20%. (Russian statistics say 8.4%), i everything we do will bring Putin into negotiations. It is oil that finances the Russian war machine and I think we can significantly reduce its profits, he added.
Bessent said year over year Russia's revenues from the sale of oil decreased by 20%. and that he suspects that sanctions will reduce them by another 20-30 percent.
— President Trump has been criticized for not doing enough. Now he has made this bold maneuver and you are quoting a Russian propagandist, Bessent said to the journalist.
Dmitriev was scheduled to meet with special peacekeeping envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday in Florida. It is known that on Sunday he met with pro-Russian Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. On Saturday, in an interview for Fox News, he argued that an agreement to end the war in Ukraine was close.
Bessent: there will be an agreement with China
In addition to the issue of Russian sanctions, Bessent appeared in the media on Sunday announced the conclusion of a preliminary framework agreement with China, announcing the withdrawal of the threat of imposing an additional 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. As he stated, at the same time the threat to impose controls on the export of Chinese rare earth metals to countries around the world will be withdrawn. This is to be the result of his discussions with Chinese Vice Prime Minister He Lifeng.
The agreement is to be concluded during the Thursday meeting of the leaders of the superpowers in Busan, South Korea. Bessent announced that the leaders will then also “consummate” the agreement on the takeover of TikTok in the US by an American consortium.
