Bessent defends Russia sanctions waiver, disputes Zelensky’s claim
The Treasury secretary rejected allegations of U.S. involvement in restrictions on Ukraine’s satellite access and said no sanctions had been lifted.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Washington’s handling of Russian sanctions and challenged President Volodymyr Zelensky’s account of restrictions on Ukraine’s satellite access during an Oct. 18 NBC News interview. He rejected accusations that the administration’s actions favored Russia.
President Donald Trump had waived most sanctions and tariffs contained in a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill signed last month. Asked what Russia had offered in exchange, Bessent said relief was limited to the diesel embargo. He subsequently maintained that no sanctions had been lifted. The new measures had been waived before taking effect, rather than removed after implementation.
Bessent also disputed Zelensky’s assertion that the U.S. government had ordered limits on Ukrainian Starlink access. Zelensky told NBC’s Kristen Welker that Ukrainian intelligence reports supported that account and that SpaceX had carried out the restrictions. Bessent said Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the allegation, and cautioned Zelensky against making claims he described as untrue.
SpaceX imposed a speed limit on Ukraine’s Starshield services, which Ukrainian forces use for military operations. Responsibility for initiating the restrictions was not immediately clear. The Telegraph reported on Oct. 16, citing multiple people familiar with the matter, that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had suggested the limit to Trump and received his agreement.
