Scott Bessent, the former US Treasury Secretary, reportedly advised President Donald Trump against hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. According to a new book, Bessent allegedly used derogatory language to describe Zelensky during private discussions.
The claims are detailed in “Regime Change,” a forthcoming book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, set to be released next Tuesday. The authors assert that Bessent referred to Zelensky using terms such as “sly,” “little weirdo,” and “a child with special needs for Europeans.”
Sources indicate that Bessent insisted Trump should not allow Zelensky to visit the White House until Ukraine signed a US-crafted agreement regarding mineral resources.
The US Treasury Department has not yet responded to inquiries regarding these allegations.
The meeting between the two leaders ultimately took place on February 28, 2025, but ended poorly, with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly criticizing Zelensky for perceived ingratitude towards American assistance.
The book also reveals details from Bessent’s visit to Kyiv, aimed at advancing the aforementioned agreement. The discussions reportedly escalated into a 45-minute heated argument between Bessent and Zelensky.
Moreover, the proposed document sparked internal disputes within the US administration, particularly between the Treasury and Commerce Departments. Allegedly, Trump requested his wife, Usha Vance, a Yale Law School graduate, to review Ukraine’s amendments to the agreement.
The issue of financial and military aid to Ukraine continues to be a focal point in global politics, recently highlighted at the G7 summit held in France.
On June 15, prior to the summit, Trump stated his intention to refocus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict following the resolution of the Iran crisis. He claimed to have had “very good” phone conversations with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that both sides were open to ending the war.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov asserted that Trump expressed a willingness to “influence Kyiv and European allies.” Meanwhile, Ukraine has made attempts to arrange direct negotiations. On June 4, Zelensky sent an open letter to Putin proposing a personal meeting with the involvement of the US and European nations, later suggesting this could occur during the G7 summit.
Trump supported the idea of a bilateral meeting, while Putin dismissed it as “meaningless,” proposing instead that Zelensky travel to Moscow.
A new book alleges that former US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised President Trump against meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, using derogatory language. The book also details the contentious negotiations surrounding a mineral resources agreement between the US and Ukraine.
Source: The Guardian