US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week signaled that the U.S. and European Union (EU) could “partner” on increased sanctions to “collapse” the Russian economy amid its ongoing war with Ukraine.
The brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, drew global outrage as leaders viewed it as unprompted and unjustified, reports Newsweek.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Solovyov, a presenter on Russian state television and close Putin ally, responded to his remarks with a terrifying nuclear threat this week, according to a video posted online by Julia Davis, a journalist who regularly translates and shares clips from Russian media. The news emerges as experts warn of the horrifying WW3 signs a Putin invasion of two NATO allies is imminent.
“He (Bessent) says, it’s a question of what will collapse first, the Russian economy, after all sanctions are imposed, or the Ukrainian Army. For some reason, he thinks that if all possible sanctions are imposed against us, we will sit down at the negotiating table. We’ll just strike with our nuclear weapons, and that’s it,” he said. “We’ll carry out a strike, and that’s it.”
He said he believes Europe is “getting ready for a war” against Russia and that Moscow should “fight harshly and terribly.”
Poland triggers NATO Article 4 after drone breach
His menacing comments come amid simmering tensions in Eastern Europe as 19 Russian drones breached Polish airspace during an overnight strike on Western Ukraine, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Poland formally invoked NATO’s Article 4, citing a national security threat.
The conflict has sparked fears about the use of nuclear weapons, as Russia has the largest stockpile in the world. Russian media personalities have frequently made threats about the potential use of nuclear weapons amid the conflict.
US Treasury chief plots economic warfare
Bessent addressed the possibility of more devastating sanctions against Russia during an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press this week.
“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia. But we need our European partners to follow us,” he said. “Because if the U.S. and the EU do this together, we are in a race now between can the, how long can the Ukrainian military hold up versus how long can the Russian economy hold up?
“And if the U.S. and the EU can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse. And that will bring President Putin to the table.”
Energy chief demands European action
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told The Financial Times this week: “If the Europeans drew a line and said: ‘We’re not going to buy more Russian gas, we’re not going to buy Russian oil,’ would that have a positive influence on the U.S. leaning in more aggressively [on sanctions] as well? Absolutely.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, urged new sanctions against Russia this week on X: “Mr. President, Congress is with you. We stand ready to pass legislation authorizing bone crushing new sanctions and tariffs that can be deployed at your discretion. Our goal is to empower you as you deal with this mounting threat.”
Kremlin defiant despite mounting pressure
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, per Reuters: “No sanctions will be able to force the Russian Federation to change the consistent position that our president has repeatedly spoken about.”
Efforts to bring an end to the years-long war have stalled. Tensions continue to remain dangerously high in Europe, with United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the incident with Poland “again underlines the regional impact and real risk of expansion of this devastating conflict.”
