Sources: Bessent Firmly Rejects Russian Minister’s Overture

Scott Bessent delivered a blunt message to Russia’s finance minister during a bilateral meeting at the G20 gathering in Asheville, North Carolina: nothing could move forward while the war in Ukraine continued.

Reuters, citing sources, reported that the U.S. Treasury secretary made clear to Anton Siluanov that there would be no economic assistance to Russia and no agreements on other matters until the war ended. A source said Siluanov tried to raise areas of mutual interest, but Bessent interrupted him and said, “Nothing is possible until the war ends.”

The meeting also focused on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, according to a U.S. official who previously spoke to Reuters. Russia’s Finance Ministry described the discussion differently, saying the officials addressed financial cooperation in the G20 context.

Siluanov attended the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in person for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invitation came from Trump’s administration and drew condemnation and protests from European officials.

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said European ministers demanded that U.S. officials keep Siluanov out of the traditional group photograph. They threatened to boycott the picture if he appeared in it. The final photograph included the European ministers but not Siluanov.

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Nothing is possible until the war ends.