Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump did not lift existing sanctions on Russia when he approved a diesel arrangement allowing Russian fuel into U.S. and global markets. Bessent said only the diesel embargo was removed and that a 60-day period would allow the administration to assess developments. His explanation added to conflicting defenses from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who described the policy as an incentive for Moscow to reduce the war in Ukraine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Russia would have sold the fuel regardless. The waiver has drawn bipartisan congressional criticism, with five House Republicans joining Democrats in urging Trump to reconsider. Bessent also criticized European purchases of Russian energy, rejected the idea that Washington was siding with Moscow and said Trump sought a negotiated end to the war. He declined three times to say whether Ukraine remains a U.S. ally and disputed Ukrainian claims that Washington restricted Starlink access or intelligence sharing.