During a meeting at the G20 finance leaders' gathering, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that no sanctions relief or new agreements would be considered while the war in Ukraine persists.
This meeting marked Siluanov's first in-person attendance at the summit since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which drew criticism from European leaders who are planning to intensify sanctions against Russia. Bessent emphasized that discussions on mutual interests could not proceed until the conflict is resolved, reflecting a clear divide between U.S. and European approaches to Russia.
The meeting also touched on President Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine and potential economic growth, although the Russian finance ministry framed the talks as focused on financial cooperation within the G20 context.
Siluanov's presence at the summit was controversial, leading to a situation where European officials refused to include him in the traditional G20 photo, underscoring the ongoing isolation of Russia in international forums