German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil refused to be photographed with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at a meeting in Asheville (North Carolina), Politico reports. Klingbeil said that he agreed on his position with representatives of other European states – and Silunova did not appear in the joint photo of the heads of the G20 finance ministries. According to the publication, Europeans are generally dissatisfied with the decision of the administration of US President Donald Trump to invite Russia to participate in the meeting.
As RTVI reported, Siluanov took part in the meeting of G20 finance ministers for the first time since 2022. In addition to participating in the meeting, he separately met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The Russian Mifin reported that the parties discussed “issues of Russian-American interaction on the financial track” and cooperation within the G20. The American side described the conversation somewhat differently. US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Erin Brown called the meeting “productive” and told Politico that Bessent told his Russian counterpart about the need to end the Ukrainian conflict.
“He conveyed to him that the war must end and that we want a peaceful outcome,” Brown said.
Another department official told Politico that Bessent and Siluanov discussed “Trump’s plan for peace and economic growth.” Fox journalist Edward Lawrence previously reported that the 28-point peace plan proposed by the US President was on the agenda of the meeting.
At the same time, Washington’s readiness to conduct a direct dialogue with Moscow does not yet mean an easing of economic pressure. According to Reuters, when Siluanov tried to discuss possible areas of interaction, Bessent interrupted him and made it clear that there would be no corresponding agreements with Moscow until the end of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
According to Politico, the presence of the Russian minister aroused dissatisfaction among representatives of European countries who advocate continued international isolation of Moscow due to the Ukrainian conflict. Klingbeil, who refused to take a photo with Siluanov, allegedly told him “straight to his face” that Russia must stop hostilities. Klingbeil called the presence of the Russian minister at the meeting “an alarming signal.”
According to Politico, the decision on the participation of the Russian delegation was made directly by the White House. Brown told the publication that the department followed the protocol established by the administration.
As RTVI reported, Trump himself told reporters on Monday that “something could come of it” from Siluanov’s direct negotiations with Bessent. The head of the White House added that the secret of his personal success is “the ability to find a common language with everyone.” According to him, these are the principles by which his administration works in solving global problems.
“This is the essence of our diplomacy. The United States likes to get along with everyone, if possible,” the president emphasized.
