U.S. invitation to Russian finance minister threatens efforts to press Europe on Iran

The presence of Russia’s finance minister cast a shadow over the U.S.-hosted G20 finance meeting, as Washington sought support for sanctions on Iran and action to reduce trade imbalances.

The two-day meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors was held in Asheville, North Carolina, with the United States serving as the G20’s rotating chair. But the gathering faced pressure from the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, and Anton Siluanov’s personal attendance.

“This definitely creates unease,” Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told Agence France-Presse when asked about Siluanov’s participation. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Union’s economy commissioner, said this was not the time to normalize Russia’s participation in such meetings. He said attendance meant discussing sensitive economic issues with a government that had launched an aggressive war and was killing civilians in Ukraine every day.

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This definitely creates unease.

EU officials said representatives learned only late that Siluanov would attend. Germany also accused Russia of being behind an attempted hybrid attack involving drones at German airports the previous month and announced diplomatic countermeasures, adding to tensions.

Despite the criticism, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held bilateral talks with Siluanov. Treasury officials said Bessent was promoting Trump’s Russia-Ukraine peace plan. Asked whether he was also pressing Russia to reduce its support for Iran, Bessent replied, “Many conversations are best held in private.”

Washington also urged partners to pursue economic growth and reduce what it considers trade imbalances, an approach likely to touch on concerns over Chinese overcapacity and alleged unfair trade practices. James Lindsay of the Council on Foreign Relations said recent G20 meetings had produced few major breakthroughs and that the latest gathering faced deep disagreements over Chinese overcapacity and sanctions on Iran. Russia’s invitation, he said, would not help Washington persuade European countries to increase pressure on Iran or accept Trump’s economic policies.

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Many conversations are best held in private.