Overview

• Scott Bessent said on Meet the Press that expanded sanctions and secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, coordinated with Europe, could drive Russia into negotiations.
• He emphasized that U.S. measures require EU participation, describing a race between Ukraine’s military endurance and Russia’s economic resilience.
• The comments followed reports of a large Russian air attack on Kyiv that killed at least four people and damaged a government building.
• The administration has already raised U.S. import duties on India to 50% over its purchases of Russian crude, a step Bessent cited as part of the pressure campaign.
• Bessent said the White House is appealing an adverse Federal Circuit ruling on tariff authority to the Supreme Court and acknowledged refunds of roughly half the collected tariffs would be required if it loses.