Discomfort
Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday that his Russian counterpart's presence at US-hosted G20 talks has caused unease among participants, given the suffering of Ukraine since Moscow's 2022 invasion. "It created discomfort, no doubt about that," Champagne told AFP when asked if the Russian finance minister's unexpected appearance impacted meetings.
Champagne was speaking in Asheville, North Carolina, where finance leaders from the Group of 20 major economies are gathered over two days of discussions. The presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov prompted protests from European officials, who objected to appearing in a traditional "family photo" with him. An EU spokesperson noted the bloc's representatives were only given short notice of his attendance.
G7 united on Ukraine
The Group of Seven held talks on the sidelines of the G20 meetings late Monday, discussing Ukraine aid. "The G7 has always been very united in our support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of the illegal invasion and the suffering that we see," Champagne said, noting the intensity of the conflict.
Champagne is also entering bilateral talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as the North American neighbors remain in a trade war. President Donald Trump in late August imposed 50-percent tariffs on certain Canadian goods, prompting Ottawa's retaliation with counter-tariffs taking effect September 8. "This is not a trade conflict we have chosen, but we need to respond to maintain a level playing field," Champagne said.