Germany warns against Russia's return to G20 fold

Key facts

• Germany warned against reintegrating Russia into the international community.
• Britain called for tighter sanctions on Russian shipping to prevent sanctions-busting activities.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated Europe would retain control of Russian sovereign assets.
• President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.

Germany warned on Thursday against efforts to bring Russia back onto the international stage, with German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stating there would be no return to normal G20 membership. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in Bangkok. Klingbeil told reporters that attempts were being made, particularly by the United States, to bring Russia back onto the international stage, but insisted that Russia would not be returning as a normal member of the G20. British finance minister John Healey called on other nations to tighten sanctions on Russia-linked shipping to prevent sanctions-busting activities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Europe would retain control of Russian sovereign assets frozen after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel, a move criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European countries. The EU has pledged €45 billion for Ukraine in 2027, and Britain will provide £17 million in funding towards repairs for Ukraine's Chornobyl nuclear power plant.