At their first meeting, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent agreed to promote bilateral relations. They met on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, held in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 31 and September 1.
“You know, we met with Mr. [US Treasury Secretary Scott ] Bessent for the first time,” said Siluanov. “It was a meeting on the sidelines of the G20. We got to know each other, which is a positive development. We agreed that there is a basis for developing our financial relations. Clearly, this is not easy right now, given that there are certain tensions between our countries. As geopolitical tensions are resolved, I am confident that we will also develop our financial ties,” Siluanov told the Russian daily Vesti.
Siluanov added that economic ties between Russia and the United States could help resolve political issues, and that the two countries should continue their dialogue. “It seems to me that finance officials can always find areas of common ground, perhaps even faster than politicians can. That is why we should always keep talking and continue the dialogue. If we identify strong areas of common ground—and they do exist—we need to develop them, and then political issues will also become easier to resolve,” he said.
Bessent is quoted by TASS as making a similar comment. “As [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump says, he likes to get along with everyone,” he said, answering a journalist’s question about the invitation of Russia to the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. “If the sides don’t talk, if we are not engaged, then how can it be solved?” he noted, referring to the Ukrainian crisis. “I know that some Europeans have had a sour taste, but you know, I think it’s very important to engage,” Bessent added.
While any form of dialogue between Russian and American officials is welcome, the historic state of affairs between these two countries should not be ignored. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed this in particular during an Aug. 28 interview with RBC in Russia:
