2026-02-01 09:00
publication
2026-02-01 09:00
US Finance Minister Scott Bessent accused the European Union of putting commercial interests ahead of the desire to end Russia's war against Ukraine. He commented on the EU's trade agreement with India and its refusal to join the US tariffs against India for buying Russian oil.
In an interview for CNBC, Bessent said he was disappointed by the attitude of European countries.
– Europeans are on the front line of the war in Ukraine, the war with Russia. India has started buying sanctioned Russian oil. And guess who bought these refined products (from Russian oil – PAP)? Europeans. Europeans financed the war against themselves, Bessent said.
He added that when the US imposed 25 percent tariffs on goods from India because it purchased Russian crude oil, the EU refused to take similar actions because it wanted to finalize the agreement with this country.
– Every time you hear a European talking about the importance of Ukraine, remember that he puts trade above Ukraine's interests (and considers – PAP) European trade to be more important than ending the war in Ukraine – he said.
Last week, Bessent argued that in response to the imposed tariffs, India had stopped purchasing Russian raw materials. He suggested that in force since August last year tariffs may be abolished.
The EU and India announced on Tuesday the end of negotiations on a trade agreement that have lasted almost 20 years. According to the European Commission, India will gradually abolish high customs duties, e.g. on European cars, which are to be reduced from 110 to 10 percent. As part of the agreement, India is also to reduce tariffs on alcohol imports from the EU and exports from the EU to this country are to double.
At the same time, India remains the only leading economy in the world that has not yet agreed on the framework of a trade agreement with the US, despite the proposals appearing since March last year. signals about a potential agreement.
From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
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