Key facts
- Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov believes dialogue between Russia and the U.S. should continue to find common ground in economics.
- Siluanov stated that he and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent found grounds for developing financial ties despite complications.
- Siluanov suggested that financial professionals can find common understanding faster than politicians.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Siluanov that no economic relief for Russia is possible until its war in Ukraine ends.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov indicated that dialogue between Russia and the United States should persist to identify common ground in economic matters, which he believes would simplify discussions on political issues. According to an Interfax news agency report, Siluanov stated that he and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, whom he met at the G20 finance leaders conference, agreed that grounds exist for developing financial ties despite existing complications.
Siluanov, meeting Bessent for the first time, expressed his view that individuals in the financial sector can sometimes reach a mutual understanding more rapidly than politicians. "So we must always keep talking; we need to continue the dialogue. If we find strong points of common interest - and they do exist - we need to develop them. Then political issues will also be easier to resolve," he said.
However, Reuters reported that a source familiar with the ministers' meeting clarified that Bessent made it clear to Siluanov that no economic relief for Russia or agreements on other issues would be possible until its war in Ukraine concludes.