Bessent met with Russian counterpart at G20

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 Monday, a striking sign of the Trump administration's willingness to reopen high-level engagement with Moscow.

Why it matters: Russia's top financial official is attending the gathering of global economic policymakers in person for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine. His appearance exposed the sharp divide between the U.S. and its European allies over how Moscow should be treated.

The intrigue: A Treasury spokesperson told Axios that Bessent and Siluanov discussed Trump's Ukraine peace plan and economic growth.

• In a statement, Russia's finance ministry said the talks covered financial issues between the two nations and G20 engagement.

Driving the news: Russia's war in Ukraine continues to rage, and European governments are still wielding sanctions aimed at squeezing Moscow's economy and finances.

• European officials have resisted treating Russia as a normal participant in global economic forums.

Zoom in: "I made it clear to the Europeans this morning in the plenary session that I would not pose for a photo with the Russian finance minister," German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told reporters in Asheville, North Carolina, according to a translation of his remarks.

• Klingbeil said that this "joint approach" from the Europeans resulted in the traditional "family photo" of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors being taken without the Russian delegation.

The bottom line: The U.S. is re-engaging with Russia, while Europe remains intent on keeping Moscow isolated as the war goes on, making for some awkward moments in Asheville.