Bessent Reportedly Tells Russian Finance Minister No Economic Lifelines Until Ukraine War Ends

By AFP and Reuters Sep. 1, 2026 Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attends a G20 summit of finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina. REUTERS / Sam Wolfe U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on Monday that Washington will not grant Russia economic relief or negotiate side agreements until Moscow ends its war against Ukraine, a source told Reuters. The meeting between Bessent and Siluanov took place on the sidelines of a G20 summit of finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina. The United States currently holds the rotating G20 presidency. Siluanov's unexpected visit, his first in-person attendance at a G20 event since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, drew immediate criticism from European officials. "Receiving the Russian finance minister here sends a signal I find troubling," German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told reporters. Klingbeil said he would have preferred a clear U.S. stance denying Siluanov a regular guest platform. Earlier, a U.S. official told Reuters that the focus of the Bessent-Siluanov meeting was President Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine. Russia's Finance Ministry said the two officials discussed economic cooperation within the G20 framework. However, when Siluanov tried to discuss areas of mutual interest, the source said Bessent interrupted him, emphasizing that "nothing is possible until the war is over." Asked about Siluanov's attendance, White House spokesman Kush Desai told AFP that the Trump administration has been working with Russia to push for a peace deal that "would stop the endless bloodshed that the president has really condemned." "The president and the administration will never shy away from talking with the folks we need to talk to, to further that," Desai said. "That's what we're working on here at the G20." Read more about: United States , Finance Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow Says RT Sanctions Part of Pre-Election 'Information Campaign' The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said a response to the new sanctions was "being prepared," adding that it would make "everyone shudder." 1 Min read U.S. Accuses Russia’s RT News Outlet of Election Interference The 10 individuals and two entities sanctioned include RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and deputy Elizaveta Brodskaia. 2 Min read Russian Police Detain Israeli-Canadian Racecar Driver Wanted in U.S. for Fraud – Reports Joshua Cartu, a Ferrari enthusiast who flaunts his lavish lifestyle on social media, is accused of defrauding investors of millions of dollars. 2 Min read Russian Media Blames U.S. Diplomat for Embassy Incident, Despite Video ADD CORRECT TEXT