Archive · 2 Sep 2026
US Treasury Secretary Defends Russian Finance Minister’s G20 Invitation
The G20 is a group where major countries discuss economic issues.
Russia’s finance minister was invited to a meeting in Asheville.
Some European countries were unhappy about the invitation because Russia is fighting Ukraine.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said countries need to keep talking to help end the war.
He said excluding Russia could make a future peace agreement harder.
He also noted that the Russian finance minister he met was not under US sanctions.
The meeting focused mostly on economic topics such as energy, food and debt.
Most countries agreed on a statement about the global economy.
China was the only attending member that did not agree to the entire statement.
Scott Bessent defended inviting Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to the G20 meeting in Asheville.
Bessent said dialogue with Moscow was necessary to help resolve the war in Ukraine.
Some European countries objected to Russia’s participation, but Bessent said it did not disrupt the meeting.
The G20 discussed economic growth, energy trade, sovereign debt, financial regulation and global imbalances.
Nineteen of 20 countries supported the chair’s statement; China was the only attending member that did not endorse the full document.
- Who
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and G20 finance ministers and central bank governors.
- What
- Bessent defended inviting Siluanov to the G20 meeting and argued that engagement with Russia was needed to help resolve the Ukraine war.
- When
- After the two-day G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting.
- Where
- Asheville, United States.
- Why
- Bessent said direct communication was necessary for diplomacy and that excluding Russia could make a settlement more difficult.
Supporters of Engagement
Critics of Russia’s Participation
Inviting Russia to the G20
Supporters of Engagement
Bessent said Russia needed to be included because communication with Moscow was necessary for resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Critics of Russia’s Participation
Some European countries objected to Russia’s presence, expressing discomfort with its participation during the war.
Effect on the meeting
Supporters of Engagement
Bessent said Russia’s attendance did not prevent progress, citing agreement by 19 of 20 countries on the chair’s statement.
Critics of Russia’s Participation
The invitation exposed continuing divisions within the G20 over Russia’s role and the Ukraine conflict.
- Meeting location
- Asheville
- Russian participant
- Anton Siluanov, Russia’s finance minister
- US position
- Scott Bessent said diplomatic channels with Moscow should remain open.
- Support for chair’s statement
- Nineteen of 20 countries agreed to the document.
- Non-supporting member
- China was the only attending G20 member that did not agree to the full statement.
- Economic topics
- Growth, energy trade, sovereign debt, financial regulation and global imbalances.
- Sanctions
- Bessent said Siluanov was not under US sanctions; he announced no change in US sanctions policy.