Tensions at the Asheville G20 around Russia's participation

Russia's participation in the G20 in Asheville, North Carolina, sparked strong tensions on Monday. Several European countries notably contested the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Silouanov, whose arrival had not been publicly announced before his appearance among the delegations gathered in the United States.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, host of the meeting, spoke separately in the morning with Anton Siluanov. According to the US Treasury, he presented President Donald Trump's 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine. The American administration, which holds the presidency of the G20 this year, has moved closer to Moscow since the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Germany particularly irritated

The presence of the Russian minister particularly irritated his German counterpart Lars Klingbeil. During the plenary session, he declared that he had “very clearly told him that the Russian government must end this war […] that we unambiguously support Ukraine”. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia, a member of the G20, had been largely kept aside.

Lars Klingbeil said he had requested, along with other European countries, that Anton Silouanov not take part in the “family photo” planned for Tuesday. “Welcoming the Russian Finance Minister here sends a signal that I find disturbing,” he said, saying the United States should have shown that he was “not an ordinary guest.”

The Trump administration defends this invitation

The White House defended the choice to maintain dialogue with Moscow. “The president and his government are not afraid to speak with the people who matter” in order to “end the endless bloodbath” in Ukraine, declared Kush Desai, White House spokesperson present in Asheville.

Our file on the war in Ukraine