--- title: "US Treasury Secretary Bessent met Russian counterpart Siluanov at G20" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-met-russian-counterpart-siluanov-at-g20" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-met-russian-counterpart-siluanov-at-g20" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-met-russian-counterpart-siluanov-at-g20.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-met-russian-counterpart-siluanov-at-g20" category: "Politics" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-08-31T18:46:43.683Z" source_reported: "2026-08-31T17:38:00.000Z" updated: "2026-08-31T18:46:43.683Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 45 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-31T18:30:38.329431+00:00" --- # US Treasury Secretary Bessent met Russian counterpart Siluanov at G20 *The pair discussed Donald Trump's plan to end the Ukraine war, with European officials objecting to Siluanov's presence.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies and multiple independent outlets, but relies on anonymous sourcing for key details. - Craft 45 of 100, higher is better. Reports are clear and hold together, but lack quotes from affected parties and details on what happens next. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The presentation is measured and proportionate, with headlines accurately reflecting the article content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. - The two officials discussed U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. - Sources also indicated that Bessent and Siluanov discussed economic cooperation between their countries. - European governments objected to Siluanov's participation, leading to his absence from a traditional group photo. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. According to reports, Bessent and Siluanov discussed U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Sources also indicated that the two officials discussed economic cooperation between their countries. Siluanov's presence at the G20 meeting marked his first in-person attendance at such an event since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The participation of the Russian minister prompted objections from European governments. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and his counterparts threatened to boycott the traditional group photo if Siluanov was included. Ultimately, Siluanov did not appear in the group photo. ## Disagreement on advance notice Il Messaggero reported that the meeting between Bessent and Siluanov was not announced in advance, and an Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent that Kyiv had no knowledge of the meeting. Meduza stated that U.S. officials gave no advance notice. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov also discussed economic cooperation between their countries, a detail reported by Meduza and confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Finance in digests from ekonomim.com and Business Daily. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (1) - Centre: 16% (1) - Right: 67% (4) 7 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-31T18:30:38.329431+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-31T19:00:33.745Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Meduza, the sole left-rated report, led with the meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The report stated that sources indicated they also discussed doing business again. It detailed the objections from European governments, including threats to boycott the group photo, and noted Siluanov's absence from it. Meduza also highlighted that U.S. officials gave no advance notice of the meeting. ### Centre - Il Messaggero, the centre-rated report, focused on the meeting between Bessent and Siluanov at the G20, noting it was the first time a Russian minister had attended since the war began. The report stated the U.S. Treasury Department announced Bessent discussed Trump's peace plan. It detailed the European protest over Siluanov's presence, the threat to boycott the photo, and his subsequent absence. Il Messaggero also included information about Ukraine's lack of knowledge regarding the meeting and discussed various peace plans for Ukraine. ### Right - The two right-rated reports, Protothema and Anadolu Ajansı, led with the discussion of economic cooperation issues between the Russian and U.S. finance ministers on the sidelines of the G20. Protothema stated that Siluanov and Scott Bessett discussed cooperation between Russia and the U.S. on financial issues. Anadolu Ajansı reported that the U.S. Treasury chief met the Russian finance minister to discuss a possible settlement to the Ukraine war, noting the high-level talks occurred on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 1 - unknown: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [ekonomim.com](https://ekonomim.com/kuresel-ekonomi/rusya-ve-abdden-finans-alaninda-isbirligini-gorusmesi-haberi-915409) — Russia and the US to Discuss Cooperation in the Financial Sector. - [Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru](https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2026/08/31/siluanov-prinial-uchastie-vo-vstreche-ministrov-g20-v-ssha-vpervye-za-chetyre-goda-on-obsudil-s-bessentom-mirnyi-plan-trampa-po-ukraine-news) — Siluanov Participated in the G20 Ministerial Meeting in the United States for the First Time in Four Years, and Discussed with Bessent Trump's Peace Plan for Ukraine, the New Gazette. - [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1872016/oi-upourgoi-oikonomikon-rosias-kai-ipa-suzitisan-themata-oikonomikis-sunergasias-sto-perithorio-tis-g20) — Russian and US Finance Ministers Discussed Economic Cooperation Issues on the Sidelines of the G20 - [Meduza](https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/31/u-s-treasury-secretary-bessent-and-russian-finance-minister-siluanov-met-at-the-g20-to-talk-about-ending-the-war-in-ukraine-sources-say-they-also-talked-about-doing-business-again) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Siluanov met at the G20 to talk about ending the war in Ukraine. Sources say they also talked about doing business again. - [ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84](https://athina984.gr/2026/08/31/oi-ypoik-rosias-kai-ipa-syzitisan-themata-oikonomikis-synergasias-sto-perithorio-tis-g20) — Russian and US Finance Ministers Discuss Economic Cooperation on the Sidelines of the G20 - [Il Messaggero](https://ilmessaggero.it/mondo/ministro_russo_g20_finanze_incontro_bessent_cosa_e_successo-9735455.html) — Putin Sends His Minister to the G20 of Finance, Talks with Bessent on the US Peace Plan. Furious Europe, "Hunted" From the Photo - [tvrain.tv](https://tvrain.tv/news/glava-minfina-siluanov-prinjal-uchastie-v-sammite-g20-vpervye-s-nachala-polnomasshtabnoj-vojny-575440) — What Siluanov Discussed with Bessent at the G20 Summit - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/228986_synomilies-rosias-ipa-gia-oikonomiki-synergasia-sto-perithorio-tis-g20) — Russian and US Treasury Ministers Meet to Discuss Cooperation at the G20 - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/world/us-treasury-chief-meets-russian-finance-minister-to-discuss-possible-settlement-to-ukraine-war-reports/4042934) — US Treasury chief meets Russian finance minister to discuss possible settlement to Ukraine war: Reports - [1prime.ru](https://1prime.ru/20260831/siluanov-872838980.html) — Siluanov and Bessent Discussed the Ukrainian Settlement - [Life.ru](https://life.ru/p/1918869) — CNBC: Bessent Discussed Trump's Peace Plan on the G20 Fields with Siluanov - [vz.ru](https://vz.ru/news/2026/8/31/1447607.html) — CNBC: Siluan and Bessent Met in the U.S. - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/08/31/2555031.html) — Bessent and Siluanov spoke on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers' and central banks' meeting in the United States ## Questions **Who met at the G20 summit?** U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. This was the first time Siluanov had attended a G20 meeting in person since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. **What did Bessent and Siluanov discuss?** According to reports, the two officials discussed U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Sources also indicated that they discussed economic cooperation between their countries. The meeting was not announced in advance by U.S. officials. **Why did European officials object to Siluanov's presence?** European governments objected to the participation of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 meeting. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and his counterparts threatened to boycott the traditional group photo if Siluanov was included, and he ultimately did not appear in the photograph. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-met-russian-counterpart-siluanov-at-g20. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US Treasury Secretary Bessent met Russian counterpart Siluanov at G20", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-met-russian-counterpart-siluanov-at-g20