G20 meeting: Canada expresses discomfort over Russian presence

Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at a G20 meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, caused “a lot of discomfort around the table.”

While Russia remains a member of the G20, Champagne emphasized that supporting Ukraine is a central component of Canada’s foreign policy and noted that Moscow should not have been invited given the ongoing war.

U.S. President Donald Trump defended the decision to invite Russia, stating the administration prefers “getting along with everybody.” However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly informed Siluanov that the United States will not provide Russia with economic relief until the war in Ukraine concludes.