US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday that Washington and its partners in Europe are discussing new sanctions and secondary tariffs against Russia over its war in Ukraine, BNR reported.
"We are ready to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us", Bessent told NBC television.
He noted that more sanctions and tariffs against countries that continue to buy oil from Russia would lead to "complete collapse" of the Russian economy and would force President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
Earlier this week, Bessent noted that the United States would review its sanctions policy toward Russia amid its continued attacks on Ukraine.
On Monday, he indicated that the White House administration would carefully consider possible sanctions against Russia within this week, following Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine despite recent peace talks.
"I think with President Trump, all options are on the table and I think we will consider them very carefully this week," Bessent said at the time during an exclusive interview with Fox News.
He said that Putin "has done the opposite" of what he said he wanted to do during his meetings with US President Donald Trump in Anchorage.
"In fact, he has, in a pathetic, pathetic way, increased the bombing," he said.
Besent's statement today comes against the backdrop of last night's largest Russian aerial bombardment since the start of the war with Ukraine.