US Treasury Secretary Bessent downplays Russia sanctions waiver, warns Zelensky to 'be careful'

Key facts

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied claims that Washington's actions favored Russia.
• Bessent warned President Volodymyr Zelensky to "be careful" about his statements.
• President Donald Trump waived most sanctions from a recent Russia sanctions bill.
• Zelensky alleged the U.S. government was behind the curb on Ukrainian Starlink access.
• SpaceX implemented a speed cap on Ukraine's Starshield services.
• The speed cap followed a U.S. threat to withhold intelligence if Ukraine continued bombing Russian oil refineries.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied accusations that Washington's recent actions favored Russia and warned President Volodymyr Zelensky to "be careful" in an Oct. 18 interview with NBC News. The comments followed President Donald Trump's waiver of most sanctions from a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill. Zelensky had claimed Ukrainian intelligence reports indicated the U.S. government was behind the curb on Ukrainian Starlink access, a move SpaceX implemented. This restriction followed a U.S. threat to withhold intelligence support if Ukraine continued bombing Russian oil refineries. Bessent stated that only the diesel embargo was lifted and that Trump has been tough on sanctioning Russia.