Several finance ministers and central bankers including Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen and Ukraine’s finance minister, Serhiy Marchenko, abruptly left a Group of 20 meeting in protest on Wednesday when Russia’s finance minister, Anton Siluanov, started to speak, according to a person familiar with the meeting.
The walkout was a stark demonstration of Russia’s isolation on the global stage and came as the United States and its allies spend the opening days of spring meetings held by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund grappling with how to contain the fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Top economic officials from around the world have gathered in Washington and virtually to discuss ways to maintain economic pressure on Russia without further upending the global economy.
At the meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Siluanov and Russian officials were participating virtually. Some finance ministers and central bank governors who were also participating virtually turned off their cameras when Mr. Siluanov spoke, the person familiar with the meeting said.
President Biden has asked for Russia to be removed from the Group of 20. The Treasury Department said this week that Ms. Yellen would make clear this week that it should not be business as usual for Russia in the global economy, and that the Treasury secretary would not be participating in some meetings when Russia is present.