US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joins Ukraine walkout of G20 meeting as Russian official starts speaking

Representatives from UK and Canada also left room

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined Ukraine’s walkout of a G20 meeting when Russian officials began to speak, in protest at Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Ms Yellen, a member of Joe Biden’s cabinet, was joined in the protest by a string of international finance ministers and central bank governors, including representatives from Canada and the UK, at the meetings in Washington DC.

She had indicated before the G20 finance meetings that she would skip some events because of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked assault on Ukraine.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also joined Ms Yellen in leaving the meeting, two sources told the newspaper.

US Treasury officials said on Monday that Ms Yellen intends to urge the International Monetary Fund and World Bank members to ramp up the pressure on the Kremlin.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who has been sanctioned by the US government over Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, which began on 24 February, was expected to attend the conference remotely.

Ms Yellen’s decision to skip some meetings at which Russian officials would be present undercores the Biden administration’s view that Russia should be banned from global financial institutions, the official added.

A UK Treasury official said: “Alongside our allies the US and Canada, representatives from the UK left the G20 meeting as Russian delegates spoke.

“The UK is being represented in all G20 sessions by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and the Chancellor’s Finance Deputy Lindsey Whyte. We will continue working with our allies to condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine in strongest terms, and push for stronger international coordination to punish Russia for their unprovoked and unjustified actions, and work closely with partners and the International Finance Institutions to support Ukraine in their hour of need.”

The G20 was founded in 1999 as a forum for finance officials and central bank leaders from the world’s largest economies to meet and coordinate policy. It was later expanded to include the heads of state as well.

It is the first meeting of the G20 since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and will also be attended by a string of countries, such as China, who have refused to condemn Mr Putin’s actions.

Mr Biden has previously called for Russia to be thrown out of the G20 over the invasion.

Ms Yellen is due to meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who has travelled to Washington DC for the event.