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Bessent tells Russia: No economic relief before the war ends
🇳🇴 Norway /Economy & Trade

Bessent tells Russia: No economic relief before the war ends

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that Russia should not expect economic relief before the war in Ukraine ends, according to a person familiar with their meeting.
  • The ministers met during the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, where Ukraine peace efforts and G20 financial cooperation were discussed.
  • The meeting marked Siluanov’s first in-person attendance at a G20 meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, while existing sanctions and limited oil-sale permits remain part of the economic context.

“Nothing is possible before the war is over,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, according to a person familiar with their meeting. The remark set a firm condition for any economic easing as the two men met in Asheville, North Carolina, during the G20 finance ministers’ gathering.

Siluanov had tried to raise areas where the United States and Russia share interests, but Bessent reportedly interrupted him. A U.S. official had earlier told Reuters that President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine was central to the discussion. Russia’s Finance Ministry gave a different emphasis, saying the ministers discussed financial cooperation within the G20.

The meeting was Siluanov’s first physical participation in a G20 meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. European officials working on additional sanctions against Russia have reacted with irritation to his attendance.

The United States imposed sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies in October 2025. But after the war against Iran reduced energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, Bessent authorized the sale of Russian oil already loaded on tankers. The measure aimed to increase market supply, while also allowing Russia to earn revenue from those sales.

Nothing is possible before the war is over.

— Scott BessentThe U.S. Treasury secretary’s reported response when Russia’s finance minister raised areas of shared interest.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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