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US Treasury Secretary Bessent Calls Putin a War Criminal, Affirms Diplomacy Still Necessary
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![Amira_barkhush]( "Photo of Amira Barkhush")
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a war criminal when asked directly during a congressional hearing on May 7.
During the Treasury Secretary’s annual testimony on the state of the international financial system, Bessent responded “Yes” when asked by Democratic Congressman Juan Vargas whether he believed Vladimir Putin is a war criminal.
When Congressman Vargas followed up by asking, “Would you negotiate with a war criminal?” Bessent responded, “I think that’s the nature of diplomacy, one must negotiate with both sides, Sir.”
He then added, “I believe negotiation was needed with the Japanese after World War II.”
Additionally, Bessent criticized the previous administration under President Joe Biden, saying it provided aid to Ukraine but imposed “very weak” sanctions on Russia.
On May 5, the US Treasury Secretary stated that the US President Donald Trump greenlit last week’s mineral partnership with Ukraine in part to strengthen his negotiating position with Russia and ensure financial returns for US support to Kyiv.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine is expected to ratify the recently signed US-Ukraine mineral deal within the next few weeks.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
