Trump Brings Russia Back to the G20, as Europe Refuses to Pose With Russian Minister
Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- The Trump administration included Russia in a G20 meeting hosted by the United States, reversing the approach taken by U.S. officials after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a one-on-one meeting with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and said the war must end, according to a Treasury official.
- European finance ministers refused to join a group photograph with Siluanov, resulting in a picture without the Russian minister or delegation.
Russia’s return to a gathering of the world’s leading economies created an immediate split between Washington and its European allies. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended the first day of the G20 talks in Asheville, hosted by the United States, while European officials objected to his presence.
Bessent had a productive meeting with the Russian finance minister.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also met Siluanov privately on the sidelines. Erin Brown, the Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, said Bessent told him that the war must end and that the United States wanted a peaceful outcome. A Treasury spokesman said the two men discussed Donald Trump’s plan for peace and economic growth.
Brown said the decision to include Russia came from the White House. “We follow White House protocol,” she said. Trump defended the move when reporters asked about Russia’s participation. “We like to get along with everyone. One of the reasons I have been so successful is that I get along with everyone,” he said.
He conveyed that the war must end and that we want to see a peaceful outcome.
The meeting did not amount to economic relief for Moscow, according to a source familiar with the discussion cited by Politico. Bessent made clear that the United States would not provide Russia with economic relief until the war in Ukraine ends.
We follow White House protocol.
The change contrasts with the Biden administration’s approach. In 2022, then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined Western officials in leaving a G20 meeting when a Russian official began speaking. In Asheville, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said he had made clear that he would not pose for a group photograph with Siluanov. He said European officials coordinated their position, and the final photograph excluded both the Russian minister and the Russian delegation.
We like to get along with everyone. One of the reasons I have been so successful is that I get along with everyone.
About this summary
Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. 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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