Russian official to attend G20 meeting in Texas

A Russian government representative will participate in an upcoming G20 energy conference in Houston, according to a White House source on Friday. Earlier this month, U.S. officials invited Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to a G20 gathering in North Carolina, a move that displeased European delegates, marking Siluanov's first in-person attendance at the forum since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Abundance is scheduled for Monday through Wednesday, with U.S. officials such as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and White House official Jarrod Agen attending. Information regarding Russia's participation in next week's meeting has not yet been disclosed by the White House.

Energy officials from Europe and Asia are also anticipated to attend. Despite the meeting's title, concerns over energy security persist due to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. The U.S. has experienced record-high diesel prices, Iran has largely obstructed oil and gas passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and the construction of U.S. data centers is straining power supplies.

Although President Donald Trump reportedly had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested a deal to end the war in Ukraine, intelligence officials in the U.S., Ukraine, and Europe remain skeptical of Putin's genuine intent to conclude the conflict. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on additional Russian sanctions during the G20 meeting, though the bill's passage remains uncertain, as it did in the Senate.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Russia since October 2025, targeting its top two oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. The Moscow Times, an independent Russian news outlet, faces censorship and legal threats from Russian authorities for its reporting, labeling it as an "undesirable organization" and a "foreign agent." The journalists of The Moscow Times assert their commitment to providing unbiased and accurate reporting on Russia and request support from the public to continue their work, emphasizing the importance of defending open and independent journalism amidst repression.