US Treasury Chief Dodges Question on Ukraine as Ally
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent repeatedly avoided answering whether Ukraine is a US ally during an NBC News interview on Sunday, instead noting Washington provides military support to Kyiv but not Moscow. Bessent cited three forms of US assistance to Ukraine: intelligence data, Starlink satellite internet, and the PURL program allowing NATO allies to buy American weapons for Ukraine. He criticized Europe for insufficient support, questioning why European NATO members don't offer their Patriot systems. Bessent accused Ukraine and Europe while not blaming Russia, stating President Trump wants to end the war through negotiated settlement. He dismissed Zelensky's framing of Ukrainian victory as a "false binary," amid reported tensions between Trump and the Ukrainian president.