For the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has attended a G20 meeting in person. Siluanov traveled at the invitation of the United States to Asheville, North Carolina, where discussions are focused on how to get the global economy back on track.

Siluanov last took part in a G20 finance ministers’ meeting by video link in April 2022. Several Western finance ministers walked out in protest when he began speaking.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has attended G20 meetings more regularly, but President Vladimir Putin has not appeared at a summit in person since 2019.

That could change this year. US President Donald Trump has suggested that Putin could attend the G20 summit in Miami in December, saying Russian participation would probably be “very helpful”.

(mja)