‘They’re keeping the war going’: Scott Bessent points to who he says is prolonging Russia-Ukraine conflict

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that China and India are prolonging the Russia-Ukraine war.

While President Donald Trump secured a historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains unresolved. Discussing reports that India and China have been aiding Russia, Fox’s Laura Ingraham pressed Bessent on the issue.

“So it’s ag[riculture] and oil, and do you think, in your estimation, you’ve run all the numbers, would this war be possible now were it not for China and India’s involvement in those purchases?” Ingraham asked.

Bessent immediately responded, “Absolutely not,” after which Ingraham directly asked if both China and India are “keeping the war going.”

“They’re keeping the war going, but, as I said, 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 said.

WATCH:

Due to their refusal to condemn the war and high purchases of Russian oil, both India and China have faced international criticism, according to Fox Business. Both countries have reportedly aided Russia, and that includes a $1.4 million compound sales agreement between a private Indian company and two Russian firms, the outlet reported.

Since Trump’s second administration began, he has repeatedly sought to ease tensions between the two nations, meeting with leaders from both countries on multiple occasions. In August, negotiations were reportedly underway, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling Fox News that the conflict could officially end if Ukraine feels “safe moving forward.”

The prospect of ending the war peaked after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15. The long-awaited meeting came after Putin had been reluctant to hold direct discussions with Ukraine, despite Trump’s repeated calls for peace.

Since the summit, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine, including an airstrike in the Lviv region near the Polish border. The attack killed five people. Trump warned that the U.S. would defend Poland and the Baltic states if Russian aggression continued.

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