Moscow’s inclusion was a sharp change from how the U.S. handled such gatherings after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
By Michael Stratford and Rasmus Buchsteiner, Politico
The Trump administration’s decision to bring Russia back into the fold at a gathering of the world’s leading economic officials is stirring fresh tensions with European allies who want to continue isolating Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was in the room Monday for the first day of the U.S.-hosted G20 talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also held a one-on-one meeting with Siluanov on the sidelines of the summit.
Siluanov’s attendance, however, was opposed by European officials in Asheville on Monday, and the decision to include the Russian official in the meeting caused a stir in the planning of a group photo of participants.
