Allies bristle as sanctioned Russian finance minister attends U.S.-hosted G20 summit

“I would have wanted greater clarity from the American side that he should not be received here as a normal guest,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the summit of leading rich and developing nations Monday.

Valdis Dombrovskis, European commissioner for the economy, echoed those concerns Tuesday. The European Union did not see it as a time to “normalize” Russia, he said at a media briefing. “We also have problems discussing sensible diplomatic matters with representatives of a country waging an aggressive war and which are killing civilians on a daily basis,” he added.

There was no immediate reaction to NBC News’ request for comment about Siluanov’s attendance from the Ukrainisn Foreign Ministry, but Andrzej Domanski, the finance minister from neighboring Poland, told Reuters he was unhappy to see Russia represented, although he recognized the right of G20 hosts to invite guests.

Asked by reporters at the Oval Office about the invitation to Siluanov, President Donald Trump said Monday: “Well, we are 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.”

And Erin Browne, treasury undersecretary for international affairs, said Monday the delegation was invited because Russia is a member of the G20. “It’s important to have dialogue even during times of conflict. We’ve had constructive dialogue around the table in the plenary session,” she said.

While Siluanov has previously attended G20 finance minister meetings outside the U.S. after the invasion of Ukraine, his appearance on American soil follows years of political and economic isolation of Russia from Western countries in an attempt to pressure the Kremlin to negotiate an end to the conflict.

In April 2022, officials from several countries, including then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, walked out of a G20 meeting in Washington as Siluanov gave his remarks by video conference.

Russia was suspended from the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations after it annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, but has remained a member of the G20.

NBC News has asked German and Polish finance ministries for further comment, as well the finance ministries of other European allies of Ukraine in the G20 including Italy, France and the United Kingdom.