Delegates walked out of IMF steering committee meeting when Russian official spoke, sources say
BANGKOK: Many delegates to the International Monetary Fund’s steering committee walked out of a meeting on Saturday when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov addressed the group in Russian, three sources familiar with the matter said. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has roiled the International Monetary and Financial Committee, preventing it from reaching consensus statements in…
Delegates to the International Monetary Fund’s steering committee meeting in Bangkok walked out in protest when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov spoke in Russian, according to three sources familiar with the incident. The International Monetary and Financial Committee has been unable to reach consensus since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, leading to deep divisions at the recent IMF and World Bank annual meetings.
Nearly a dozen delegates, including members from the European Union, left the meeting, according to one source. A European diplomat emphasized that the ongoing war in Ukraine is "existential for us in Europe" and that they cannot normalize relations with Russia. Germany warned against efforts to re-integrate Russia into the international stage following Siluanov's participation in a G20 finance ministers and central bankers meeting, despite the US hosting his first in-person G20 appearance since the invasion.
US Treasury Undersecretary Erin Browne defended Russia's presence, stating that open dialogue is crucial for resolving crises. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized US President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia and called for European allies to strengthen their role in peace talks, as Ukraine continues to face missile and drone attacks from Russia.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
