Scott Bessent
Role at the time: U.S. treasury secretary
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Bessent said the diesel embargo was the only sanction lifted and pointed to a British waiver on diesel and jet fuel made with Russian crude, asking where the outrage was for other countries.
“the U.K. in May waived their embargo on diesel and jet fuel made with Russian crude. So, you know, where’s the outrage for the rest of the world?”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Bessent says there was no sanctions relief for Russia after US diesel deal · The HillParagraphs quoting Bessent on Meet the Press
The Hill reports Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks on NBC's Meet the Press about the diesel arrangement and the Graham Act waiver.
Why we used this label
Labels describe responses to the administration's easing of sanctions on Russian diesel. Bessent defends the easing by comparing it with a British waiver and saying European countries buy far more from Russia.