European financial leaders staged a diplomatic revolt on Monday after the Trump administration blindsided allies by inviting sanctioned Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to attend a US-hosted G20 finance meeting in person. The meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, marks the first time Russia’s top financial official has attended a G20 gathering in person since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The surprise invitation by the US, which currently holds the rotating G20 presidency, triggered immediate backlash from European delegates who have spent years trying to maintain Russia’s global economic isolation. The photo boycott and direct confrontation The diplomatic friction peaked during preparations for the traditional G20 “family photo.” Led by German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, European representatives refused to pose alongside Siluanov, threatening to boycott the photograph if he were included. Organizers ultimately excluded the Russian minister from the official photo. Despite the European protest, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a one-on-one meeting with Siluanov on the sidelines. According to US officials, Bessent used the meeting to advocate for President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, while a source familiar with the talks said Bessent informed Siluanov that no economic relief or agreements on other issues would be possible until Russia ends its war.