Top Senate Democrat urges Treasury to enforce US sanctions against Russia
Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Getty Images)
The top Senate Finance Committee Democrat has urged US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to commit to strictly enforcing Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia, Reuters informs.
In a letter to Bessent, Senator Ron Wyden also requested answers on how the US-Ukraine agreements on critical minerals and investment:
- would help strengthen Ukraine's postwar security;
- and would avoid benefiting any entities or countries that supported Russia's war effort.
Wyden also cited Bessent's comments during his confirmation hearing, in which Bessent said he would be ready to increase sanctions on Russia, including targeting oil companies, if Donald Trump asked him to do so to help end the war.
"I ask that you reaffirm your commitment to stringently enforce these sanctions and answer questions about how you envision other measures pursued by this administration, including agreements with Ukraine, potentially working in conjunction with these sanctions," Wyden wrote.
The senator also called on Bessent to clarify remarks he made on Fox News, in which he did not rule out allowing Russia back into the SWIFT international banking network.
"Would Treasury allow Russian banks to rejoin SWIFT absent a comprehensive peace agreement with Ukraine that fully addresses Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine?" Wyden asked in the letter.
US sanctions on Russia
In March, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump was ready to dramatically escalate economic sanctions against Russia to pressure it into peace talks.
In May, Bessent said the US and Europe would move to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin refused to negotiate with Ukraine in a spirit of goodwill.
