Russia's Siluanov returns to US-hosted G20 finance talks in North Carolina, drawing European objections

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has made a surprise in-person appearance at US-hosted G20 finance talks in Asheville, North Carolina, in a move that immediately drew criticism from several European officials. His attendance on Monday marked the first time he has taken part in a G20 meeting in person since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The talks brought him into direct contact with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, underscoring the diplomatic sensitivity of Russia's return to the forum.

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According to the Russian finance ministry, Siluanov and Bessent discussed financial cooperation within the G20 framework. A US official said the bilateral meeting focused on President Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine. Trump defended the invitation when asked by reporters, saying the US likes "getting along with everybody" and that this approach was part of his success.

The appearance was not widely expected, and it quickly became one of the most closely watched moments of the gathering. European ministers reacted sharply to the decision to allow Siluanov to attend. Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski said he was unhappy to see Moscow represented, while also acknowledging that G20 hosts have the right to invite guests.

He said he did not trust Russia and described it as the aggressor in the war against Ukraine. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the US decision sent a "signal I find troubling" and told Siluanov during a plenary session that Moscow had to end the war and that Europe clearly supports Ukraine. The episode matters because it highlights the continuing tension between diplomatic engagement and efforts to isolate Russia over the war in Ukraine.

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The G20 is designed as a forum for the world's major economies to discuss financial stability and global policy, but Russia's presence has remained contentious since 2022. The return of a senior Russian minister to an in-person meeting hosted by the US also comes as Europe prepares another package of sanctions against Moscow, adding to the political weight of the talks. European officials said ministers and central bankers had discussed Russia's participation on Sunday, including European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

They agreed that keeping an avenue for dialogue could allow them to deliver a direct message to Moscow, even as they objected to the optics of Siluanov's return. European ministers and central bankers also opposed appearing with him in the traditional G20 family photo, and the photograph was ultimately taken without the Russian minister. What remains unclear is how much practical progress, if any, came from the bilateral meeting between Siluanov and Bessent.

It is also not yet clear whether the US decision to invite him will affect future G20 meetings or wider coordination on sanctions and Ukraine policy. For now, the episode has exposed a visible split between Washington's approach to engagement and the more cautious stance taken by several European governments.

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