President Donald Trump has defended having Russia at the G20 finance meeting amid backlash from European officials who disapproved of the move.
“We’re going to see what happens, but we like getting along with everybody. One of the reasons that I’m so successful, I get along with everybody,” Trump told reporters when asked about the matter.
The U.S. hosted Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, on Monday where finance officials, central bank governors, and other international figureheads from 20 major economies gathered.
Russia has remained a member of the G20, but the country’s Finance Minister had been physically absent from the G20 summits since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European officials remain committed to isolating Moscow over the war.
This time, however, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the event in Asheville. Russia’s Finance Ministry said the pair discussed Russia-U.S. cooperation on financial matters and interaction within the G20 framework.
A Treasury spokesperson told Axios that Bessent and Siluanov spoke about Trump’s Ukraine peace plan and economic growth. A source familiar with the matter is quoted as telling the publication that Bessent ruled out economic relief for Moscow as long as the war in Ukraine continues.
TIME has reached out to the U.S. Treasury and White House for comment.
The U.S. had not publicly announced Russia’s planned attendance ahead of the meeting.
European leaders were irked by the move, with some reportedly refusing to participate in a group photograph if Siluanov was included. Instead, Bessent posed for a photo alongside Siluanov on the sidelines of the summit.
European leaders, U.S. lawmakers voice disapproval over Russia’s inclusion
Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told reporters he “would have wished that the Russian Finance Minister is not received here at the G20 in the USA as a normal guest.”
He added: “Every day, people die due to the Russian attacks. One cannot simply return to normality under those circumstances.”
Klingbeil also expressed he had made clear to his fellow European officials he would not pose alongside Russia’s finance minister for the G20 group photo.
The final so-called “family photo” notably did not include Siluanov alongside the ministers and senior officials from other countries.
Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski told Reuters he was unhappy to see Russia represented, although he recognized the right of G20 hosts to invite guests.
“We do not trust Russia. They lie constantly and you need to be really, really cautious while discussing with them,” he said. “So for me it would be very difficult to have any kind of conversation with Russia.”
Russia’s attendance also drew ire from lawmakers in the U.S.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “As Russia kills civilians in Ukraine, the White House hosts Putin’s sanctioned Finance Minister on U.S. soil. The Trump Admin needs to pressure Putin and his cronies, not offer them a platform. With the House back in D.C., it’s time to pass Russia sanctions.”
A package of tougher sanctions on Russia—pushed by late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham—is making its way through Congress after it was approved by the U.S. Senate early August.
Democratic leaders on Monday jointly urged the White House not to wait to restart stalled Russia sanctions.
“Donald Trump already has ample authority to impose sanctions on the companies, individuals, and vessels propping up a Russian war machine that continues its deadly attacks on Ukraine. Congress does not need to greenlight new tariff authority for the President to impose those sanctions on Russia today,” Representatives Don Beyer of Virginia, Gregory Meeks of New York, Richard Neal of Massachusetts, said in a joint statement, alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
U.S. officials have previously objected to Russia attending G20 meetings
In the past, U.S. officials have strongly opposed Russia’s participation in G20 meetings.
Asked in March 2022, whether Russia should be removed from the G20, Biden answered: “On the latter point, my answer is yes. That depends on the G20.” If members could not agree to remove Russia, Biden said Ukraine should be invited to attend and observe G20 meetings.
During a finance meeting with global senior finance officials in April 2022 in Washington for the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring meetings, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and officials representing Britain, Canada, and the European Central Bank walked out when Siluanov began addressing the gathering virtually.
“My decision to work with others to leave when the Russian Finance Minister began to speak was intended to make clear Russia’s behavior so violates, is so offensive to international norms, we’re not willing to allow Russia to participate or to listen to what the Russians have to say,” said Yellen during a subsequent press conference.
The Administration underscored their opposition to Russia’s inclusion in international forums during another meeting with G20 finance ministers in Indonesia in July 2022.
“Russia’s actions are not the actions of a government that upholds international norms and laws. Representatives of the Putin regime have no place at this forum,” said Yellen.
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