US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that Washington would not provide Moscow with economic relief or strike separate deals as long as Russia continues its war against Ukraine, a source told Reuters.
The meeting between Scott Bessent and Anton Siluanov took place on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors summit in Asheville, North Carolina. The United States currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20.
Anton Siluanov’s unexpected visit – his first in‑person attendance at a G20 event since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – immediately drew criticism from European officials. “The presence here of the Russian finance minister sends a signal that I find alarming,” German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told journalists.
Klingbeil added that he would prefer a clear US stance that Siluanov should not be allowed to participate in such events as a permanent guest.
Discussion of Peace Plan and White House Position
A US official earlier told Reuters that the meeting between Scott Bessent and Anton Siluanov focused on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine. The Russian Finance Ministry said the officials discussed economic cooperation within the G20.
When Siluanov tried to raise areas of mutual interest, Bessent interrupted, emphasizing that “nothing can be discussed until the war ends,” the source said.
Asked about Siluanov’s presence, White House spokesman Kush Desai told AFP that the Trump administration is working with Russia to reach a peace deal that “will end the endless bloodshed, which the president has strongly condemned.”
Kush Desai said: “The president and the administration will never shy away from talking to those we need to speak with to achieve this goal.” He added: “That is exactly what we are working on here at the G20.”
According to: The Moscow Times
