European delegates walk out of IMF meeting as Russian minister speaks in Bangkok

European delegates walked out of an IMF steering committee meeting in Bangkok on Saturday when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov addressed the group, highlighting deep divisions over the Ukraine war at the annual global financial summit. Nearly a dozen delegates, including members from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, left the room as Siluanov spoke in Russian, according to sources. The walkout reflects ongoing tensions that have prevented the committee from reaching consensus statements since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The incident follows Germany's warning against normalizing relations with Russia, while US Treasury Undersecretary Erin Browne defended Russia's presence at G20 meetings, citing the need for open dialogue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at an EU summit, criticized US President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia amid fears of reduced US support.