CNBC Daily Open: A surprise seat for Russia at the G20 table

31 August 2026, United States, Asheville: Conference participants are seated during the first working session at the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the G20 countries. Bernd von Jutrczenka | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesHello, this is Leonie Kidd coming to you from London. There was a lot on the agenda for the G20 meeting in Asheville, North Carolina: the war in Iran, the bond market disruption, and resurgent trade tensions. What did not seem to be clear, was the attendance of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, in a move that has left European officials in dismay. Read on for more.What you need to know todayThe surprise appearance of Russia's Siluanov at the G20 meeting sent shockwaves through the European community. It marked his first in-person attendance of the summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and seemed to blindside the European attendees. Officials opposed appearing in the traditional G20 family photo with Russia, which was ultimately taken without Siluanov present. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Siluanov on the sidelines of the event, and reportedly told the Russian official that no sanctions relief or new ...