European allies slam Russia's return at Asheville G20 summit

European nations expressed strong disapproval of Russia's participation in the G20 summit held in Asheville, North Carolina, as they directly urged the Russian minister to cease the conflict in Ukraine, according to Politico. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was among those attending the G20 discussions in the United States.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Siluanov privately during the summit. Both parties agreed that the war must end and a peaceful resolution achieved, with Bessent emphasizing this during their meeting. The decision to include Russia was made by the White House, following the Trump administration's general approach of trying to cooperate with all parties.

U.S. officials also stated that economic aid to Russia would not be provided until the war in Ukraine concluded. European leaders, however, declined to include Siluanov in a group photograph, with German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil explicitly stating he would not pose with the Russian finance minister. Instead, a group photo was taken without him present.

Klingbeil stated he had confronted Siluanov directly about the war against Ukraine. Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen strongly criticized the decision to invite Russia, calling for increased pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle. She also advocated for the U.S. House of Representatives to consider a new sanctions package against Russia.

This is not the first time Russian Finance Minister has been sidelined at these international gatherings. In 2022, Janet Yellen, the U.S. Treasury Secretary at the time, left a G20 session early when Siluanov began speaking virtually. In 2023, Yellen confronted Russian Finance Ministry officials at a G20 meeting in India, accusing them of causing deaths in Ukraine and causing economic harm globally due to the war.