Andrea Shalal. David Milliken. David Lawder.

WASHINGTON/LONDON Reuters – Top financial officials from Britain, Canada, and the United States walked away Wednesday’s G20 Meeting as Russian representatives spoke. Rishi, UK Finance Minister, stated that the move reflected deepening discord over Russia’s ongoing presence within the organization.

According to an insider familiar with the event, officials from Ukraine walked out of the meeting of finance heads representing the 20 biggest economies.

“Earlier my representatives, along with US & Canadian counterparts left today’s G20 meeting in Washington as Russian delegates spoke,” Sunak said on Twitter (NYSE:). “We are united in our condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine and will push for stronger international coordination to punish Russia.”

The meeting was attended by Timur Maksimov, Russian Deputy Finance Minister, and Anton Siluanov, Russian Finance Minister, as well as Russia’s Central Bank Governor.

Janet Yellen, U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated to attendees that she disapproves of a Russian senior official being present at the meeting. Two sources confirmed this statement to Reuters.

According to one source, Yellen said that participants could not have “business-as usual” with Russia. This echos her message to Sri Mulyani, the Indonesian Finance Minister, who heads the G20 group in this year’s. Indrawati has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday.

Yellen was accompanied in her walkout, including by Andrew Bailey (Bank of England Governor) and Chrystia Freiland (Canadian Finance Secretary), among others.

Christine Lagarde of European Central Bank was urging Maksimov, among other things, to send a clear message, to Moscow, to put an end to the Ukrainian war, according to one source.

G20 finance ministers, central bank governors, and the IMF’s semi-annual conference in Washington saw them meet. Key topics included the Ukraine war, food safety, and continuing recovery from the pandemic coronavirus.

One source claimed that Yellen will boycott the G20 sessions regarding international financial architecture and sustainable financing. However, Treasury officials stated she would be present at a discussion about the impact of Ukraine’s war on the global economic system.

A number of European finance officials planned to protest Russia’s invasion by following their lead.

Freeland, a Ukrainian-American citizen, has made passionate pleas for the country. He planned to “boycott all sessions where Russians attempt to talk,” according to a Canadian government official.

Freeland is Canada’s vice prime minister. She claimed that she protested against Russia’s presence at the G20 plenary.

“This week’s meetings in Washington are about supporting the world economy – and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is a grave threat to the global economy,” she said on Twitter, adding that Russia should not be participating.

The world’s democracies won’t stand by as Russia continues to act in aggression and commit war crimes. Canada today joined a host of democratic countries to leave the G20 plenary, when Russia tried to invade.

FRAGMENTATION FEARS

Kristalina Georgieva, IMF’s Managing Director, acknowledged Wednesday that it was difficult for G20. This forum has been a crucial part in responding to 2008-2009 financial crises and coordinating efforts against COVID-19.

However, she insists that collaboration through the forum will continue.

Georgieva is a Bulgarian citizen who said that there are “clearly very, very troubling facts” to be dealt with. We also know how interdependent and dependent we all are… It is obvious that we must continue to cooperate.”

Georgieva, Yellen warned of a global economic fragmentation into geopolitical blocks, where the United States, market-driven democracies and China are on the one hand, and Russia, China and other state-driven countries on the other.

The U.S. Treasury Department Website reports that the United States also issued new sanctions against the Russian financial bank and an oligarch as well as dozens of other people.