Bessent announces imminent and 'significant strengthening' of US sanctions against Russia
Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Getty Images)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced that Washington will soon tighten its sanctions against Russia. He said the White House is expected to make the announcement publicly in the near future, according to NBC News.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters outside the White House that Washington was preparing to announce a significant strengthening of sanctions against Russia, either after the market closed later that day or the following morning.
He explained that the new US measures would consist of full-scale sanctions rather than secondary tariffs and urged Washington’s allies and other Western nations to join the initiative.
Bessent added that NATO had already implemented its own sanctions package, the nineteenth so far, and said that the US was encouraging its partners to participate in the new measures.
NBC News notes that Bessent’s statement comes amid reports that President Donald Trump had been preparing a summit with Vladimir Putin, plans that now appear to be on hold.
Trump has faced mounting pressure for months to tighten sanctions on Russia, not only from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies, but also from US lawmakers across party lines, including members of his own Republican Party.
Meanwhile, in Europe, EU ambassadors have approved the 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine, with formal adoption expected soon.
The new package aims to cut Moscow’s energy revenues and increase pressure on Vladimir Putin to begin peace talks, as well as to target Russia’s allies, including China.
