Bessent Reportedly Tells Russian Finance Minister No Economic Lifelines Until Ukraine War Ends
The meeting between Bessent and Siluanov took place on the sidelines of a G20 summit of finance ministers and central bank governors.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent conveyed to Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on Monday that the United States will not offer economic assistance or engage in negotiating side agreements until Russia concludes its conflict with Ukraine, according to a Reuters source. The encounter between Bessent and Siluanov occurred during a G20 summit of finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina, where the U.S. currently holds the rotating presidency.
Siluanov's unexpected visit, his first in-person appearance at a G20 event since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, sparked immediate criticism from European officials. The German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil expressed discomfort with the event, stating that he would have favored a more firm U.S. stance denying Siluanov a regular guest platform.
Earlier, a U.S. official revealed to Reuters that the core of the Bessent-Siluanov discussion centered on President Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine. Despite Russia's Finance Ministry claiming that both officials deliberated on economic cooperation within the G20 framework, Siluanov attempted to broach topics of shared interest, only to be cut off by Bessent, who reiterated, "nothing is possible until the war is over."
When inquired about Siluanov's presence, White House spokesman Kush Desai stated via AFP that the Trump administration has been collaborating with Russia to secure a peace agreement that would put an end to the continuous "bloodshed," a stance the president has strongly condemned. Desai emphasized the administration's dedication to conducting discussions with entities essential to achieving such an agreement, as part of ongoing efforts at the G20.
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