Putin is a war criminal, but talking to him is necessary - Bessent

Asked by Democratic Congressman Juan Vargas, “Do you consider Vladimir Putin a war criminal?”, Bessent replied, “Yes,” the Kyiv Post reported.

Asked by Vargas, “Would you negotiate with a war criminal?”, Bessent replied, “I think that's the essence of diplomacy - you have to negotiate with both sides.”

“I believe that negotiations with Japan were necessary after World War II,” Bessent added.

Bessent has previously been critical of the Ukrainian leadership, particularly President Volodymyr Zelensky. Bessent suggested a reset in relations between Ukraine and the United States after the signing of a bilateral agreement on minerals on April 30.

“The previous administration led by former US President Joe Biden provided Ukraine with assistance, but imposed very weak sanctions against Russia,” Bessent said.

Photo: screenshot.