European allies slam Russia's return at Asheville G20 summit

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended the G20 summit in Asheville, North Carolina, drawing sharp criticism from European allies even as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with him one-on-one. A Treasury undersecretary said Bessent told Siluanov the war 'needs to end' and discussed Trump's peace plan, while a source told Politico Bessent forcefully cut Siluanov off when he tried to raise other topics.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil refused to appear in the group photo with Siluanov, coordinating the snub with other European officials, and said he told the Russian minister directly to end the war. The White House said Russia's inclusion followed 'established protocol,' and Trump said he wants to 'get along with everybody.'

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized the invitation and urged the House to take up a Senate-passed Russia sanctions package. The cold-shoulder treatment echoes past G20s, where U.S. officials under Biden's predecessor administration walked out on or confronted Russian counterparts directly.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.