There is no economic deal with Ukraine on the table at present, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Bessent made the remarks on Sunday, two days after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had a disastrous meeting with President Trump and Vice President Vance in the Oval Office.
“President Trump’s idea for this economic arrangement was to further intertwine the American people and Ukrainian people and show no daylight,” Bessent told the host of CBS’s “Face the Nation” Margaret Brennan.
“To show the Russian leadership that there was no daylight, and President Zelenskyy came into the Oval Office and tried to relitigate in front of the world the deal.”
Friday’s meeting between Zelensky, Trump and Vance was intended to put the seal on an agreement to share Ukraine’s mineral wealth, but instead it descended into acrimony over the terms of a potential peace deal with Russia and Ukrainian gratitude for US support over the last three years.
In front of the world’s press, President Zelensky suggested there could be no peace deal without security guarantees from the US, which prompted Vice President Vance to label Zelensky’s behaviour “disrespectful.”
The meeting was cut short and no agreement was formalised.
Zelensky has since indicated that he is willing to sign an economic deal with the US. He also said he has no reason to apologise for the argument that took place in the Oval Office.
Secretary Bessent, however, told CBS News that “it is impossible to have an economic deal without a peace deal” that will end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“I think we have to see if President Zelenskyy wants to proceed.”
“What’s the use in having an economic agreement that’s going to be rendered moot if he wants the fighting to continue. President Trump wants a peace deal,” Bessent continued.
The Treasury Secretary was then asked if an economic deal with Ukraine was still on the table. His reply: “Not at present.”
VIDEO! Watch Leftist Media Attack Trump In LockStep With The Military Industrial Complex And Zelensky To Push For Endless Wars In Ukraine.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) March 3, 2025
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VIDEO! Watch Leftist Media Attack Trump In LockStep With The Military Industrial Complex And Zelensky To Push For Endless Wars In Ukraine.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) March 3, 2025
Alex Jones Is Breaking It All Down:https://t.co/BAXnaXHmby pic.twitter.com/JxZLkLxMFQ