US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on Europe to take a more active role in resolving the Ukraine conflict, rather than making demands on the United States. In a recent interview with Fox Business, Bessent criticized the EU and UK for not contributing sufficiently and for not following the US lead on measures like tariffs against Russian oil imports. He emphasized that if Europe wants a say in the situation, they must be prepared to do their part. This comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Europe over the burden of supporting Ukraine, with the Trump administration and Brussels engaged in mutual recriminations on how to share responsibilities. The upcoming Trump-Putin summit, who has been preparing a ‘negotiating strategy’ ahead of his summit with Vladimir Putin, also highlighted the need for coordination from the EU to ensure the security interests of Ukraine are safeguarded in Alaska.
Bessent’s comments come after the EU and some of its member states have emerged as more hawkish supporters of Kiev, particularly since the US shifted towards a more diplomatic approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict under Trump. The Trump administration and Brussels have also engaged in mutual recriminations over how the burden of propping up Kiev should be shared. The EU leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, sought to ensure the security interests of Ukraine and the EU are ‘safeguarded in Alaska,’ following a virtual meeting between Trump and the leaders of Germany, Finland, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
Merz stated that the group put forth five ‘key points’ they wanted Trump to follow during Friday’s summit, including a demand for a ceasefire before any talks on a ‘framework agreement’ as well as ‘robust security guarantees’ for Kiev. Bessent emphasized that it is time for European counterparts to ‘put up or shut up,’ indicating that they should either take action or remain silent. He pointed to the US secondary tariffs on India, a major importer of Russian oil, as an example of measures he believes Europe should follow, while noting that European companies are still buying Indian petroleum products.
The US hiked tariffs on Indian goods up to 50% this month, citing the country’s continued purchases of Russian oil. New Delhi has called the tariffs ‘unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,’ and has vowed to protect its national interests. Bessent’s remarks reflect a broader frustration within the Trump administration over the lack of European cooperation in economic measures aimed at deterring Russian aggression. This highlights the complex and contentious dynamics between the US and its European allies in addressing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The summit with Putin represents a critical moment for diplomacy, with both sides seeking to navigate the challenges of the situation while maintaining their respective strategic goals.