Bessent meets with Russian delegation on the war in Ukraine

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is holding a meeting with a Russian delegation, at which the settlement of Russia's war against Ukraine is being discussed.

Fox Business White House correspondent Edward Lawrence reported this on August 31.

According to his information, the meeting is taking place at the moment. The journalist has not provided other details yet: the composition of the Russian delegation, specific agenda items and possible agreements are not being disclosed.

The report appeared on the day the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 countries began in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Bessent is hosting the two-day meeting, which is taking place on August 31 and September 1.

The new contact comes amid attempts by President Donald Trump's administration to intensify negotiations on ending the war. Last week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow and held talks with representatives of Russian special services.

It later became known that during the visit Ratcliffe proposed the idea of a trilateral meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. According to American media, the CIA chief's trip was also aimed at clarifying Moscow's readiness to return to negotiations with US mediation.

Bessent has already participated in contacts with the Russian side on the war in Ukraine. In January, together with Trump's special representative Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and White House adviser Josh Grunbaum, he met in Florida with Putin's special representative Kirill Dmitriev. The American side then described the talks as constructive.

It is not yet known whether Bessent's current meeting with the Russian delegation is preparation for a new round of negotiations with Ukraine's participation or a separate bilateral contact between Washington and Moscow.

Based on materials from: Edward Lawrence, Fox Business, Axios