Key facts
- US President Donald Trump's special envoys are planning future visits to Kyiv.
- Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended a G20 finance meeting in North Carolina.
- European officials criticized Russia's participation in the G20 meeting.
- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed Trump's peace plan with Siluanov.
Diplomatic efforts surrounding the Ukraine conflict saw increased activity on August 31, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receiving updates from US President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following their recent trip to Moscow. The envoys are reportedly planning a return visit to Kyiv soon.
Zelenskyy stated on Telegram that he had a "detailed and constructive" call with Witkoff and Kushner, expressing hope that "September can change a lot" and that partners would work to "protect people, protect lives, and achieve peace." However, he also noted that current intelligence and signals from Russia indicate that President Vladimir Putin personally desires continued conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made a surprise appearance at a G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. This marked his first attendance at such a gathering since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His presence drew criticism from European officials, including German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who described the situation as not "normal" and expressed concern about the signal sent by receiving the Russian minister as a regular guest. Klingbeil stated that he would have preferred greater clarity from the US regarding Siluanov's reception.
European ministers and central bankers reportedly opposed participating in the traditional "family photo" of attendees, leading to its exclusion of Siluanov. In contrast, White House spokesman Kush Desai indicated that the US administration is engaged in discussions with Moscow to promote a peace deal, stating that the president "will never shy away from talking with the folks we need to talk to, to further that."
Russia's Finance Ministry confirmed that Siluanov held bilateral talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss financial cooperation and G20 interactions. A US official told AFP that Bessent advocated for Trump's peace plan during the meeting.