Russia finance minister’s G20 return in US sparks European backlash

Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made a rare in-person appearance at G20 finance talks in Asheville, North Carolina, prompting sharp criticism from some European officials. It was his first physical attendance at the gathering since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Washington should not have treated Siluanov like a regular guest and said he would not join him in a group photo. The US Treasury Department also said Siluanov met Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who used the session to push President Donald Trump’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine. The two-day G20 meeting comes as the United States seeks support for more economic pressure on Iran and policies to spur growth.