Bessent and Siluanov discuss Trump peace plan at G20 in Asheville
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 finance ministers' summit in Asheville on August 31–September 1. They discussed the 28-point U.S. peace plan proposed in November 2025 and economic cooperation. Siluanov's first G20 appearance since the Ukraine war drew European criticism, and he was excluded from the group photo.
Key Facts
- Bessent and Siluanov met on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers' summit in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 31–September 1.
- The U.S. peace plan discussed by the ministers consists of 28 points and was first proposed in November 2025.
- Siluanov's attendance marked his first G20 finance ministers' meeting since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
- German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil led a European protest that resulted in Siluanov being excluded from the traditional group photo.
The Meeting
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov met at the G20 finance ministers' summit in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 31–September 1. CNBC, citing the U.S. Treasury Department, reported that Bessent discussed Trump's peace plan with Siluanov, and AFP confirmed the meeting with an unnamed U.S. official. The Russian Finance Ministry stated that the ministers discussed Russian-American financial cooperation and G20 coordination. Fox Business correspondent Edward Lawrence noted on X that the peace plan comprises 28 points and was first proposed by the U.S. in November 2025.
European Protest
Siluanov's presence at the G20 summit drew sharp criticism from European officials, led by German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. Klingbeil called the reception of Siluanov a 'warning signal' and threatened to boycott the group photo if the Russian minister appeared in it. After Klingbeil's protest, joined by other European representatives, the traditional photo was taken without Siluanov. Klingbeil told reporters he confronted Siluanov at the morning session, demanding an end to the war in Ukraine and reaffirming Berlin's support for Kyiv.
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Bessent and Siluanov discuss Trump peace plan at G20 in Asheville
