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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined three times Sunday to say whether the United States considers Ukraine an ally, underscoring growing tensions between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Washington’s approach to Russia’s war.
Asked repeatedly about Ukraine’s status during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Bessent pointed to U.S. assistance for Kyiv rather than offering a direct answer.
“We provide the three different things … to Ukraine, so that’s what you do for an ally. We’re not providing those to Russia,” Bessent said, referring to intelligence support, Starlink access and a system allowing NATO members to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.
Pressed a third time, he responded: “I’m not the secretary of state. I’m not the president.”
The exchange came after Zelenskyy warned in an earlier interview on the same program that it would be a “historic mistake” for the United States to side with Russia. The Ukrainian president said he hoped Trump would reconsider recent decisions and stressed that Kyiv still wanted to trust Washington.
Bessent criticizes Zelenskyy over Starlink claims
Bessent accused Zelenskyy of acting recklessly by suggesting that the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk had restricted Ukraine’s access to resources needed to defend itself.
“President Trump and Secretary Rubio have categorically said that no one in the Trump administration did that,” Bessent said.
Zelenskyy said limitations on Starlink satellite service had interfered with Ukrainian forces’ ability to counter Russian drones. He described the restrictions as a possible “message from American government.”
Ukraine also reported a temporary disruption in U.S. intelligence sharing. Zelenskyy said the information-sharing arrangement had since resumed, while Trump denied that his administration had stopped sharing certain intelligence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also disputed Zelenskyy’s account, saying Monday that there had been no interruption.
Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, has been important to Ukraine’s military communications and battlefield operations. The competing accounts have added to uncertainty about the extent and reliability of U.S. support.
Trump’s energy ceasefire claim adds to tensions
The dispute follows Trump’s announcement last weekend that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” a claim that caught some European allies by surprise.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine temporarily halted strikes on Russian energy infrastructure but accused Moscow of failing to reciprocate. Ukraine later resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Trump has criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities, arguing that they contribute to higher fuel prices. His administration has also moved to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports and temporarily suspend parts of a recently enacted Russia sanctions package.
Bessent rejected the characterization that Trump had broadly lifted sanctions, describing the decision as a 60-day pause to assess the effects of the measures.
“The only thing that has been lifted is the diesel embargo,” he said.
The administration has defended the moves as part of Trump’s effort to reduce energy costs and create conditions for negotiations. Zelenskyy and other critics have warned that easing restrictions could provide economic relief to Russia while its war against Ukraine continues.
Bessent says war must end through negotiations
Bessent also challenged Zelenskyy’s argument that Ukraine must win the war, describing it as a “false binary.”
“President Trump has made it clear that he wants to end this war; that it must stop,” Bessent said. “The war must end, and that will be with some kind of a negotiated settlement. And President Trump is working on that every day.”
Zelenskyy has continued to call for U.S. support, including weapons and intelligence, while warning that decisions benefiting Moscow could weaken Ukraine’s position.
The latest disagreement leaves the future scope of U.S. assistance uncertain. Bessent emphasized that Washington continues to provide Ukraine with support that it does not provide Russia, but he stopped short of confirming that the administration views Kyiv as an ally.
