Special representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin Kirill Dmitriev, who arrived in Washington to discuss bilateral relations, is a Russian propagandist, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated in an interview with CBS, LETA reports citing Meduza.
Journalist Margaret Brennan asked the Secretary if Dmitriev was right when he stated during his visit to the US that Washington's sanctions "will not affect the Russian economy."
"Margaret, are you really going to quote what a Russian propagandist says? What else can he say?" - replied Bessent.
According to the Secretary, the Russian economy is currently a military economy with "virtually zero" growth and inflation above 20%.
"And everything we do pushes Putin towards negotiations," - Bessent added.
When the journalist asked if this meant that nothing Dmitriev said should be listened to, the Secretary responded with a counter-question:
"What do you think will happen to him if he goes home and says, 'Oh, God!'? What if he said on air: 'This is terrible, President [Donald] Trump was right. This is a maximum pressure campaign, and it will work'?"
"Margaret, what would he say? Of course, he would say exactly that - [that sanctions will not affect the economy]," - the Secretary noted.
"President [Donald] Trump is criticized for allegedly doing nothing. He is taking a bold step - and you are quoting a Russian propagandist," - added the US Secretary of the Treasury.
Kirill Dmitriev arrived in the US on October 24 - shortly after Trump announced the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Putin in Budapest.
Following the visit, Dmitriev stated that he had "very clearly" conveyed Putin's position to the US that "only constructive and respectful dialogue will yield results."
