Last month, Brussels introduced its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting banks, crypto exchanges, and Indian and Chinese businesses, as well as Moscow’s diplomats. Russia has repeatedly called Western attempts to put pressure on it in a bid to support Ukraine’s war effort futile and self-harming. The strategy also caused rifts within the bloc itself, with dissenting nations, including Hungary and Slovakia, urging Brussels to reconsider its approach and engage in diplomacy instead.

According to Bessent, the US combined its peace initiatives with “pressure” on Moscow. The EU nations were “the real laggards” in this regard, he said, recalling how the bloc’s officials informed him about their plans to introduce the latest round of anti-Russian sanctions.

“In my mind… if you’re going to do something 19 times, you’ve failed,” he added.

Bessent also criticized the EU for its reluctance to follow the US tariff strategy on China and India and buying their products made of Russian oil. President Donald Trump had been particularly pressuring European NATO members to hit Beijing with sweeping trade tariffs, citing its continued purchases of Russian energy. The current US administration is engaged in what he called a “trade war” against China.

Washington also slapped India with additional 50% tariffs over its purchases of Russian oil. New Delhi denounced the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”

Earlier this week, US Vice President J.D. Vance also criticized the EU approach towards the Ukraine conflict by calling Brussels’ expectations unrealistic.

“There is a fantasy that if we just give more money, more weapons, or more sanctions, victory is at hand,” he stated.

In mid-November, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted that America was “running out of things to sanction” in Russia after Washington blacklisted oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft in a move he said was made at the request of Kiev and its backers.

Rubio led a US delegation that met with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva on Sunday to try to thrash out a plan for ending the conflict, which began in February 2022 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A joint US-Ukraine statement released minutes later by Washington said: “As a result of the discussions, the parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework.”

The White House announced Sunday that talks in Switzerland on a proposal to end the Ukraine war marked a “significant step forward,” and reaffirmed that any eventual deal would “fully uphold” the war-wracked country’s sovereignty.

US President Donald Trump had given Ukraine until November 27 to approve his controversial plan to end nearly four years of fighting.

But Kyiv has sought changes to a draft that accepted a range of Moscow’s hardline demands, with the 28-point plan requiring the invaded country to cede territory, cut its army and pledge never to join NATO.

The statement’s announcement of a new draft appeared to indicate that changes were indeed made.

“The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace,” the joint statement added.

“The discussions showed meaningful progress toward aligning positions and identifying clear next steps. They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace.”

Both sides pledged to keep working on joint proposals “in the coming days.”

The White House’s readout stressed that Rubio and his team had reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to “ensuring that Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and future prosperity remain central to the ongoing diplomatic process.”