European finance ministers and officials objected to Russia's participation in the Group of 20 major economies (G20) finance meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, where Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended alongside representatives of the Russian Central Bank. Germany Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said relations with Moscow could not be normalized while its war against Ukraine continued and said Europe was preparing another sanctions package. Siluanov separately met U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss Russia-U.S. financial cooperation and interaction within the G20 framework. European ministers and central bankers, including British counterpart John Healey and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, declined to appear with Siluanov in the usual family photograph; the final image was taken without him. Klingbeil said dialogue could help deliver a direct message to Russia, but argued that Siluanov's return after four G20 meetings without Russian participation suggested an attempt at normalization. The United States, as host, also did not invite South Africa, the previous year's G20 host, while Spain was absent after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to halt trade with the country.