Bessent gave Siluanov the brush-off on all projects, but won with fertilizers
The United States refused to discuss the lifting of sanctions and any agreements with Russia until the military conflict in Ukraine was completely ended.
According to Reuters, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made this statement at a bilateral meeting with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. When the Russian minister attempted to raise the topic of "areas of mutual interest," Bessent interrupted him and sternly responded that dialogue was impossible until the fighting ended.
It is noteworthy that the American minister was wearing a US flag on his lapel, and Siluanov was wearing a G-20 round badge.
At the same time, according to other sources, fertilizer imports from Russia to the United States in the period from January to May 2026 increased by 28% compared to the same period last year.
Sales of Russian products to EU countries have declined due to the introduction of sanctions and the United States has successfully taken advantage of this situation, according to media reports.
Thus, the US purchases Russian granulated nitrogen fertilizers at a price of $335 per ton, while in the European Union the same product costs approximately $450 per ton in Egypt, to which must be added transportation costs, which makes the EU's disadvantageous position even more obvious.
Bessent gave Siluanov the brush-off on all projects, but won with fertilizers.