Washington (USA), 31 Aug. (LaPresse) – There is controversy at the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting currently underway in Asheville, North Carolina, over the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. According to The New York Times, the situation is embarrassing for European representatives, who in recent years have pushed for Moscow’s isolation following the invasion of Ukraine. European officials, the NYT reports, immediately protested against Siluanov’s presence, threatening to boycott the traditional group photo of the ministers if Siluanov took part. The threat appears to have worked, and Siluanov did not participate in the photo. Lars Klingbeil, Germany’s vice chancellor and finance minister, told reporters that he had reprimanded his Russian counterpart over the invasion of Ukraine and called on Moscow to end the war. “I would have preferred a clear position from the United States so that he would not be welcomed as just any other guest,” Klingbeil said regarding the presence of the Russian representative.
G20: tensions at finance summit in North Carolina over presence of Russian minister
Washington (USA), 31 Aug. (LaPresse) – There is controversy at the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting currently underway in Asheville, North Carolina, over the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. According to The New York Times, the situation is embarrassing for European representatives, who in recent years have pushed for Moscow’s isolation following the invasion of Ukraine. European officials, the NYT reports, immediately protested against Siluanov’s presence, threatening to boycott the traditional group photo of the ministers if Siluanov took part. The threat appears to have worked, and Siluanov did not participate in the photo. Lars Klingbeil, Germany’s vice chancellor and finance minister, told reporters that he had reprimanded his Russian counterpart over the invasion of Ukraine and called on Moscow to end the war. “I would have preferred a clear position from the United States so that he would not be welcomed as just any other guest,” Klingbeil said regarding the presence of the Russian representative.