Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted on Thursday that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is being prolonged by the continued involvement of China and India, particularly through their purchases of Russian energy.
Bessent’s comments, made during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, shed light on the economic factors he believes are sustaining Moscow’s war effort, even as the Trump administration celebrates a separate peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
‘Absolutely Not’ Without China and India
When pressed by host Laura Ingraham on whether the war would “be possible now were it not for China and India’s involvement” in purchasing Russian agricultural products and oil, Secretary Bessent immediately responded, “Absolutely not.”
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Ingraham followed up by directly asking if the two nations are “keeping the war going,” to which Bessent confirmed, “They’re keeping the war going.”
This assessment stems from international criticism the two nations have faced for their refusal to condemn the invasion and their increased imports of discounted Russian oil, according to reports from Fox Business. The report also cited a private Indian company’s $1.4 million compound sales agreement with two Russian firms as an example of reported aid.
Despite the current situation, Bessent expressed optimism that the balance of trade could soon shift.
“It’s my strong belief that India is going to start rebalancing over the next few weeks and months, and we will see a diminishment of Russian oil in favor of U.S. oil,” Bessent predicted.
War Persists Despite Trump’s Peace Efforts
Bessent’s remarks underscore the persistent challenge of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which remains unresolved despite President Donald Trump’s repeated efforts to ease tensions. Since the start of his second administration, President Trump has met with leaders from both nations on multiple occasions, seeking a path to peace.
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The prospect of an end to the war had recently peaked following a long-awaited summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15th. Following the summit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that the conflict could officially end if Ukraine feels “safe moving forward.”
However, Russia has continued its aggression, including a recent airstrike in the Lviv region near the Polish border that killed five people. President Trump has issued a stern warning, promising that the U.S. would defend Poland and the Baltic states should Russian aggression persist.
The administration’s focus on the war continues even after President Trump successfully brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, securing a significant diplomatic victory.
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