Ukraine war: US lead G20 walkout as Russian finance officials spoke at meeting
- Top officials from Britain, US and Canada walked out on Russia’s representatives at G20 meeting
- Russian finance minister called on the G20 not to politicise dialogue between members
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen led a multinational group of finance chiefs on a walkout Wednesday as Russian officials spoke during a meeting of the G20, in the latest protest by Western nations over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s attack on its neighbour loomed over the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the world’s most developed countries, the first since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion in late February.
British and Canadian officials also took part in the boycott, officials confirmed, underscoring the boiling tensions at the gathering convened to address global challenges like rising debt and a possible food crisis.
“Multiple finance ministers and central bank governors including Ukraine Finance Minister (Sergiy Marchenko) and Secretary Yellen walked out when Russia started talking at the G20 meeting,” a source familiar with the event said.
“Some finance ministers and central bank governors who were virtual turned their cameras off when Russia spoke.”
One source added that Yellen told participants there could be “no business-as-usual” for Russia in the global economy.