May 08, 2025
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” as lawmakers pressed the Trump administration’s policy of pushing Ukraine into dialogue with the Russian leader.
Bessent was specifically asked by Congressman Juan Vargas, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee’s task force on Monetary Policy, during the committee’s hearing, if he would negotiate with a war criminal, the Telegraph reports.
“I think that’s the nature of diplomacy when you have to negotiate with both sides. I believe negotiations were necessary with the Japanese after World War II,” Bessent replied.
When asked directly whether he considered Putin a war criminal, Bessent replied: “Yes.”
During his testimony, Bessent also spoke about the Trump administration’s policy of using sanctions and “choking” the financial lines of terrorists, criminals and hackers from Mexico and Guatemala to China and Iran.
When asked about Russia, Bessent highlighted the US response to Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues, which support its war against Ukraine.
He also criticized the Biden administration’s “weak sanctions” on Russia, noting that they only targeted lower-tier oil companies and imposed a price cap that failed.
It highlighted the Trump administration’s success in driving down oil prices and the impact of reduced Russian revenues on their war efforts.
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