The head of the US Treasury Department got angry at Dmitriev: Don't listen to the "Russian propagandist"

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Kirill Dmitriev, Moscow's chief negotiator with the Americans, a "propagandist", who went to Washington after the introduction of sanctions by the Donald Trump administration against Russian oil companies Rostneft and Lukoil.

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, is a "Russian propagandist," the Correspondent said on CBS News. So he commented on Dmitriev's words that US sanctions will not affect the Russian economy in any way.

"Are you really going to publish what the Russian propagandist says? What else can he say? That everything will be terrible and it will force [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to sit down at the negotiating table?"  Bessent asked the journalist.

The head of the US Treasury Department claimed that in Russia currently has a military economy built allegedly with "virtually zero" growth and inflation above 20%. He also said that Moscow's revenues from oil sales allegedly decreased by 20% compared to last year, and new US restrictions could lead to their fall by another 20-30%.

"President [Donald] Trump has been criticized for allegedly doing nothing. He is taking a bold step [imposing sanctions], and you are quoting a Russian propagandist," the finance minister continued.

In addition, he argued that Washington's pressure on Moscow would eventually push Putin to negotiate.

EADaily adds: Kirill Dmitriev, who is on a visit to the United States, announced a meeting of American congressmen with State Duma deputies the day before. According to him, an agreement on this was reached with a member of the House of Representatives from the Republican Party, Anna Paulina Luna. "She also confirmed her desire to hold a meeting," which will become "an important dialogue between the parliaments of our countries," Dmitriev said.

In addition, he presented Luna with flowers and sweets with Putin's quotes so that she "knows the way of thinking" of the Russian leader, noting that "the Russian people appreciate her efforts in support of peace." Dmitriev also drew Luna's attention to the fact that discussions with the Americans are being held "in a very serious tone" and are aimed at "clearly communicating" Putin's position, which is to "respect all Russia's interests and eradicate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis."

On October 22, the White House imposed sanctions restrictions against Russia's largest oil companies — Rosneft and Lukoil and 34 subsidiaries of these companies. White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said Washington expects these restrictions to put significant pressure on Moscow for a ceasefire on the line of contact.

On the eve of the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that the new US sanctions have harmed the restoration of Russian-American relations, but this is not a reason to refuse to establish ties between the countries. He also pointed out that it is "the Ukrainians who do not want the negotiation process, they are strongly encouraged to do so by the European Union." The Kremlin spokesman stressed that this was "the reason for the very pause" in the peaceful settlement. According to him, in the conditions of a pause, "Trump understands that so far there is no reason to believe that in the very near future it is possible to move somewhere" in resolving the conflict on Ukraine".

Earlier, Trump canceled a meeting with Putin in Budapest, adding that he was no longer going to "waste his time [on negotiations on Ukraine] in vain."