Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News in an exclusive interview that “all options are on the table” as the Trump administration weighs sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin continued to bombard Ukraine despite recent talks about peace.
Bessent spoke with Senior National Correspondent Rich Edson at Martin’s Tavern in Washington, D.C., responding to a question about potential sanctions on Russia.
“I think everything’s on the table,” Bessent said. “President Putin, since the historic meeting in Anchorage, since the phone call, when the European leaders and President Zelensky were at the White House the following Monday, has done the opposite of following through on what he indicated he wanted to do as a matter of fact, he has, in a despicable, despicable manner, increased the bombing campaign.”
Bessent added: “So I think with President Trump, all options are on the table, and I think we’ll be examining those very closely this week.”
SENATE SIGNALS READINESS TO HIT RUSSIA WITH HARD SANCTIONS IF PEACE DEAL FAILS
In the weeks after meeting with President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, in an attempt to advance a peace deal, Putin has yet to back off from attacking Ukraine.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON ‘VERY SEVERE’ CONSEQUENCES THREAT IF PUTIN BLOCKS PEACE PROCESS
On Thursday, Russia pummeled Ukraine with missiles and drones, killing at least 17 people and wounding 48 others in Kyiv. Among the dead were four children between 2 and 17, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s city administration.
Experts told Fox News Digital last week that the attack could be a signal Putin is utilizing diplomacy to buy himself more time to advance his goals and continue to attack Ukraine, all while avoiding secondary sanctions that the Trump administration has threatened to impose.
Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
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