Trump Invites Russia's Sanctioned Finance Minister to a G20 on U.S. Soil, and Allies Leave Him Out of the Group Photo

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, sanctioned by the United States in April 2022, attended the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, on Aug. 31 at the Trump administration's invitation — his first such meeting on American soil since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He addressed the summit and met Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, but was left out of the traditional "family photo" after complaints from European participants. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called the signal sent by receiving him "quite troubling," and European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said it was not the moment to normalize Russia.

Excluding sanctioned Russian officials from Western financial gatherings has been a central instrument of pressure since 2022, and hosting one reverses that posture without any announced change in policy or in the war.

Asked about the invitation, Trump said, "we like getting along with everybody." Treasury Undersecretary Erin Browne said the delegation was invited because Russia is a G20 member and dialogue matters during conflict. A source told NBC News that Bessent told Siluanov no economic relief is possible until the war ends.