US Treasury Secretary Bessent says he continues to believe that Russian President Putin is a war criminal; further Russian sanctions depend on the peace talks

US Treasury Secretary Bessent says he continues to believe that Russian President Putin is a war criminal; further Russian sanctions depend on the peace talks.

The statement from Treasury Secretary Bessent underscores ongoing tensions regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reaffirming the U.S. position on sanctions against Russia. The emphasis on peace talks as a condition for further sanctions suggests that market sentiment could remain cautious, particularly in energy and safe-haven assets like gold, as any escalation could disrupt these markets further.