- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that no sanctions relief or new agreements with Moscow were possible as long as the war in Ukraine continues.
- The two officials met on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) finance leaders' gathering in Asheville, North Carolina.
- Bessent's remarks came as Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- Bessent made it clear to Siluanov that "nothing is possible until the war is over", when the Russian minister brought up other areas of mutual interest, Reuters reported.
- European governments have planned to expand sanctions to further squeeze Moscow's economy and finances.
- Russia's surprise return to the table sparked dismay among European officials, who in the traditional G20 photo, which was ultimately taken without the Russian minister.
- At least four people were killed and over a dozen injured in Russian air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region in the early hours, marking the sixth consecutive night of strikes.
- The Nato Baltic air policing mission scrambled fighter jets, and Finland and Latvia restricted air and maritime traffic close to Russia as the attack unfolded.
- Ukraine responded with its own attacks, with Sergei Sobyanin saying more than a dozen drones were shot down as they headed for Moscow, and Russian air forces were shooting at drones in the Leningrad region.
- In Kyiv, eight people were killed and five wounded, including three children, with fires breaking out in different locations.
- In Boryspil in the Kyiv region, one person was killed and nine injured, including a child, after missiles and drones damaged an apartment building and a business facility.
- The Russian defence ministry said its forces hit military and energy facilities in Ukraine's Kyiv and Odesa, as well as surrounding regions.
- Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said Nato is reacting swiftly and is "vigilant and ready" to protect its territory.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent firmly stated to Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that "nothing is possible until the war is over" during their meeting at the G20 finance leaders' summit in Asheville, North Carolina. This marked Siluanov's first in-person appearance since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.123
Bessent's comments came amid plans by European governments to expand sanctions against Russia, aiming to further isolate the nation economically. The meeting highlighted a rare willingness from Washington to engage diplomatically with Moscow, despite European allies' intentions to maintain isolation while the conflict persists.51112
In a grim backdrop, Russian airstrikes on Kyiv resulted in at least four fatalities and numerous injuries, marking the sixth consecutive day of attacks. Local authorities reported that eight people were killed, including three children, as missiles and drones targeted residential areas, igniting fires across the capital.781315
In response to the escalating situation, NATO scrambled fighter jets, with the Baltic air policing mission activated in Latvia. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna assured that NATO is "vigilant and ready" to protect its territory, as air raid alerts spread across most of Ukraine.91016
The ongoing violence and diplomatic tensions underscore the complex dynamics at play as the G20 summit unfolds, with European leaders visibly dismayed by Russia's presence.
“The rare meeting marked Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's 2022 invasion, underscoring Washington's willingness to reopen high-level channels. Meanwhile, at least four people were killed in Kyiv, with eight killed in the capital alone, including three children, as air raid alerts covered most of Ukraine.”
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The Independent
