Amid two days of talks among G20 finance ministers and central bank heads gathered in Asheville, North Carolina, an unexpected and deeply awkward issue (for some) has emerged. The whole session is being overshadowed by the fact that the White House welcomed Russia to the meeting, which has set off anger and frustration among the Europeans. Also, some key media outlets and prominent reporters have been banned from the summit.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made an unexpected appearance after his official US invite, and then was welcomed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for a bilateral meeting. This marks Russia’s first in-person invite to the G20 since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022 – and it is happening while the US holds the rotating G20 presidency and is playing host.

  • In a statement, Russia’s Finance Ministry said the talks covered financial issues between the two nations and G20 engagement.
  • Bessent ruled out economic relief for Moscow as long as the war in Ukraine continues, according to a source familiar with the meeting. When Siluanov raised potential areas for cooperation, Bessent interrupted the official and made clear there’d be no progress until the war ends, the source added.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/europeans-blindsided-russian-finance-ministers-presence-g20-asheville