European ministers demanded that the Russian Finance Minister not be included in the traditional summit group photo.

Europe angered by Russian finance minister’s appearance at G20 summit – NYT
Siluanov personally participated in such an event for the first time since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine / photo – screenshot

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made a surprise appearance at a meeting of world economic leaders at the G20 summit in Asheville, N.Y. The invitation was extended by the administration of US President Donald Trump, but drew condemnation and protests from European officials, The New York Times reports .

It is noted that Siluanov personally participated in such an event for the first time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, speaking to reporters, said that during one of the first sessions of the meeting, he expressed a sharp rebuke to Siluanov in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, demanding that Moscow stop the war and assuring his unwavering support for Ukraine.

“The reception of the Russian finance minister here sends a signal that I find disturbing… I would prefer that there be a clear position from the US side that he should not be received as an ordinary guest,” Klingbeil said.

The publication noted that American officials did not publicly announce that Siluanov would be present at the summit.

Klingbeil added that European ministers demanded that American officials not include the Russian finance minister in the traditional group photo of the summit, threatening a boycott if he appeared in the picture. In the end, the photo was taken without him, but with the participation of Europeans.

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In addition, most Europeans were outraged that representatives of South Africa, a long-time member of the G20, were not invited to the summit. The publication recalled that Trump had previously skipped the G20 summit in South Africa, stating that “white South Africans are being killed indiscriminately” in that country.

(C)UNIAN 2026