On October 12, 2026, US Treasury Secretary Bessent sharply criticized European countries, accusing them of hypocrisy over their criticism of the US deal with Russia regarding diesel fuel supplies. According to him, since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, European nations have spent significantly more on energy resources from Russia than they have provided in financial aid to Ukraine.
EU's Energy Policy Under Fire
Bessent characterized the European Union's energy policy as a failure, pointing out that despite the criticism of the deal with Russia, European countries continue to fund the aggressor. The Secretary noted that:
- Europe has paid Russia more for energy resources than it has provided to Ukraine.
- This situation calls into question the true intentions of the EU in supporting Ukraine.
- Criticism of the deal by European leaders appears hypocritical in light of such expenditures.
The Importance of International Support for Ukraine
Bessent emphasized that to effectively support Ukraine, approaches to energy policy must change and dependence on Russian energy resources must be reduced. He urged European countries to take more active steps in supporting Ukraine, stating that:
- True support for Ukraine lies not only in financial aid but also in reducing dependence on Russia.
- Europe must find alternative energy sources to decrease funding for the aggressor.