German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil confronted Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the August 31 G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville regarding Russia's war against Ukraine. ^[1] G20 finance leaders adopted a final statement on Tuesday that was backed by all participants except China. ^[2] Finance ministers from 19 G20 countries, excluding China, agreed on Tuesday to act against non-market policies that cause over-reliance on exports and hinder growth in other nations. ^[3] Scott Bessent, the US Treasury Secretary, stated on Tuesday that 19 members of the G20 agreed to address global economic imbalances caused by cheap exports, while China opposed the initiative. ^[4] Klingbeil stated that the Russian regime has been leading a brutal, illegal war against Ukraine. ^[5] Lars Klingbeil told Anton Siluanov directly during the meeting that the Russian government must end the war and that Germany remains firmly on Ukraine's side. ^[6] Lars Klingbeil told journalists after the meeting that he perceived the signal to welcome the Russian finance minister as irritating and wished for clarity from the U.S. side. ^[7] European allies expressed frustration after Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was welcomed at the US-hosted meetings in Asheville, North Carolina. ^[8] The chair's statement called for free, safe, and predictable navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, though China dissented from that section. ^[9] US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov had no impact on the talks. ^[10] Scott Bessent told a news conference that 19 countries wanted to address the issue of non-market-based economies pushing out cheap exports. ^[11] The G20 chair's statement said countries with excessive external surpluses should remove distortions that constrain domestic consumption and result in over-reliance on exports. ^[12]