U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has cited Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as one of the factors driving up energy prices.
Bessent made the remarks following two days of G20 meetings with finance ministers from around the world in North Carolina, Ukrinform reports, citing The New York Times.
"We are going through an energy shock right now due to both the war in Ukraine — because Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up Russian energy assets and refine products, so that is creating upward price pressure on a global basis. And then the conflict in Iran. And the conflict in Iran will end," Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.
The comments came after the United States angered some allies who have staunchly supported Ukraine for inviting Russia's finance minister, Anton Siluanov, to the gathering of the Group of 20 nations. The newspaper noted that at similar forums in the past, U.S. and other Western officials left the room when Siluanov addressed his counterparts by teleconference.
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