US Tells Russia No Sanctions Relief Until Ukraine War Ends at G20 Meet
· World · CNBC, Zee News
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that no sanctions relief or new economic agreements are possible while the war in Ukraine continues. The two met on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers' gathering in Asheville, North Carolina on August 31, 2026, marking Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's 2022 invasion. Bessent said nothing is possible until the war is over when Siluanov raised areas of mutual interest, according to Reuters. The meeting signalled Washington's willingness to keep diplomatic channels open even as European governments moved to expand sanctions and refused to appear alongside Siluanov in the traditional G20 family photo, which was ultimately taken without the Russian minister.
Why it matters
The exchange exposes a widening US-Europe split on how to handle Russia, with Washington keeping the door open for a Trump-brokered deal while Europe pushes harder isolation through expanded sanctions.
Read the original report — CNBC
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