Europe warns of 'disturbing signal' after Russia enters G20 talks
Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 summit in the US, August 31, 2026 (Source: x.com/EdwardLawrence)
On August 31, Russia participated in a G20 meeting in the US for the first time since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sparking outrage among European delegates, according to Reuters.
Anton Siluanov, Russia’s Finance Minister, attended the gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. He was accompanied by representatives from the Central Bank of Russia.
According to the Russian Ministry of Finance, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov held bilateral talks with his US counterpart, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who hosted the gathering. The two discussed financial cooperation between Moscow and Washington, as well as coordination within the G20 framework.
However, the presence of a high-level Russian delegation has sparked significant discontent among European allies.
Europe’s reaction
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil emphasized that normalizing relations with Moscow remains impossible while Russia continues its war against Ukraine. He stated that Europe is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia and expects close coordination with the US.
"A joint approach would be best, yet it is sometimes unclear whether there might be a loosening of the stance over there. I find the signal sent by receiving the Russian finance minister here quite troubling," Klingbeil said.
He argued that Washington should have made it clearer that Siluanov’s presence did not equate to treating him as a regular guest.
Russia excluded from group photo
In a visible display of dissent, European finance ministers and central bank representatives refused to include the Russian minister in the traditional "family photo" of summit participants. The final group photograph was taken without Siluanov.
Klingbeil revealed that European delegates, including UK Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healy and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, had coordinated their stance the previous evening.
According to Klingbeil, the Europeans agreed that maintaining a channel for dialogue remains valuable, as it allows the West to convey its position directly to Moscow. Nevertheless, the mere return of a Russian minister after several G20 cycles held without Russian participation has raised eyebrows.
"However, the mere fact that the Russian finance minister is back - after, I believe, four G20 meetings without Russian participation - indicates an attempt at normalisation, and that makes it all the more important for us to push back," Klingbeil noted.
US media reports suggest that during sideline meetings at the G20, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.
