Trump Defends Hosting Russia at G20 as Europeans Voice Disapproval

CEO of JPMorgan Chase Jamie Dimon and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the 2026 G20 Financial meetings in Asheville, North Carolina, on Aug.

31, 2026. —Melissa Sue Gerrits—Getty Images President Donald Trump has defended having Russia at the G20 finance meeting amid backlash from European officials who disapproved of the move.

“We’re going to see what happens, but we like getting along with everybody.

One of the reasons that I’m so successful, I get along with everybody,” Trump told reporters when asked about the matter.

The U.S. hosted Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, on Monday where finance officials, central bank governors, and other international figureheads from 20 major economies gathered.

Russia has remained a member of the G20, but the country’s Finance Minister had been physically absent from the G20 summits since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

European officials remain committed to isolating Moscow over the war.

This time, however, U.S.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the event in Asheville.

Russia's Finance Ministry said the pair discussed Russia-U.S. cooperation on financial matters and interaction within the G20 framework.

A Treasury spokesperson told Axios that Bessent and Siluanov spoke about Trump’s Ukraine peace plan and economic growth.

A source familiar with the matter is quoted as telling the publication that Bessent ruled out economic relief for Moscow as long as the war in Ukraine continues.

TIME has reached out to the U.S.

Treasury and White House for comment.