US Decision to Include Russia's Siluanov in G20 Finance Talks Sparks European Outrage

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended a plenary session as finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 countries met in Asheville, North Carolina, US, on August 31, 2026, marking a surprise appearance that sparked frustration and dismay among European ministers and officials.

Siluanov’s presence at the talks in Asheville on Monday represents the first time the minister, appointed in 2011, has attended a G20 meeting in person since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He held a bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with Russia’s Ministry of Finance stating that the two men discussed financial cooperation within the G20 framework, while a US official noted the conversation focused on US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine.

When asked about the invitation extended to Siluanov, President Donald Trump told reporters: “We like getting along with everybody. One of the reasons I’m so successful, I get along with everybody.”

European officials strongly criticized the move. Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski expressed unhappiness at seeing Moscow represented, acknowledging the host nation's right to invite guests but stating, “We do not trust Russia. They lie constantly, and you need to be really, really cautious while discussing with them.” He stressed that Russia remains the aggressor in the conflict with Ukraine, adding that having any kind of conversation with Russia is very difficult.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called the US decision to welcome Siluanov a “signal I find troubling”. He reported telling Siluanov during a plenary session that Moscow had to end the war and that European nations clearly support Ukraine, noting that Europe is currently preparing a further package of sanctions against Russia.

European ministers and central bankers also opposed appearing with Siluanov in the traditional G20 “family photo”, resulting in the photograph being taken without the Russian minister. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and other European officials had discussed Russia’s involvement, agreeing that maintaining an avenue for dialogue could allow them to deliver a frank message to Moscow, though Klingbeil emphasized that the return of the Russian finance minister indicates an attempt at normalization that requires pushback.

White House spokesman Kush Desai defended the attendance to the AFP news agency, stating the Trump administration has been working with Russia to push for a deal to stop endless bloodshed. Meanwhile, sources familiar with the Washington-Moscow talks indicated that Scott Bessent made it clear the US will not provide Russia with economic relief until the war in Ukraine concludes.

The two-day meeting takes place as global debt levels reach a record of nearly $353 trillion, the global economy faces an energy shock from the US-Israel war on Iran, and tensions rise over China’s large trade surplus alongside uncertainty regarding artificial intelligence investment.