Russia returns to G20 finance meeting in US; Europeans boycott group photo
European finance ministers protested Anton Siluanov’s participation in the Asheville meeting and arranged the group photo without him.
Russia’s finance minister returned to a G20 finance ministers meeting in the United States on Monday, drawing open displeasure from European officials who objected to his presence and refused to take the usual group photograph alongside him.
Anton Siluanov attended the session in Asheville, North Carolina, accompanied by representatives of the Russian central bank. The Russian Finance Ministry said Siluanov met on the sidelines with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss bilateral financial cooperation and interaction within the G20 framework.
European ministers signal concern, press for coordinated sanctions
Germany’s finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, told reporters in Asheville that Europe was preparing an additional package of sanctions against Russia and hoped to coordinate closely with Washington on further measures. "A joint approach would be best, but sometimes it is unclear whether a compromise is possible. That's why I think the signal sent by welcoming the Russian finance minister is quite troubling," he said.
Klingbeil added that European delegations — including Britain’s John Healey and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde — held talks on Sunday evening and agreed that keeping channels for direct messages could be useful, while opposing an ordinary joint photo with the Russian minister. European ministers and central bank governors ultimately decided the official photograph would be taken without Siluanov.
"However, the very fact that the Russian finance minister returned after, I believe, four G20 meetings without Russia's participation indicates an attempt at normalization and therefore it is even more important for us to oppose that," Klingbeil said.
The United States, which as host compiled the guest list for the meeting, did not invite South Africa — last year’s host — nor Spain, a country that President Donald Trump has threatened with trade measures, according to participants.
Photo: press material from the event
