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Bessent Meets Russian Finance Minister on Ukraine Peace Plan

9/1/2026

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Bessent Meets Siluanov

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday.
The bilateral talks centered on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine.
Bessent issued licenses permitting the sale of Russian oil stored on tankers.
Siluanov appeared in person at a G20 event, the first since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

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Bessent Meets Siluanov

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday.
Critics warned the encounter could legitimize Russia’s wartime regime and sparked protests from European officials.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said receiving Siluanov sent a troubling signal.
Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski said he does not trust Russia and called its summit presence unacceptable.

History

Historical Context

On 17 August 1998 the Russian government devalued the ruble, widened its exchange band and defaulted on sovereign debt, prompting a $22.6 billion IMF-World Bank rescue package. The shock taught Russian bankers to diversify assets, a lesson echoed at the 2024 G20 where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on oil-sale licences.

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Bessent Meets Siluanov

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville, North Carolina on Monday.
The bilateral talks centered on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine.
Bessent issued licenses permitting the sale of Russian oil stored on tankers.
Siluanov appeared in person at a G20 event, the first since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

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