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Russia welcomed back to IMF, Netherlands walks out during Russian speech

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen and several other delegations staged a walkout during an IMF meeting in Bangkok to protest the presence of sanctioned Russian officials. Minister Heinen emphasized that attending the session alongside these representatives would normalize ongoing Russian aggression.

During an International Monetary Fund meeting in Bangkok, Finance Minister Eelco Heinen led a walkout of the Dutch delegation as a protest against the presence of Russian officials. This action was taken in response to the IMF allowing Russian representatives, including those on international sanctions lists, to attend the annual assembly for the first time since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several other European nations, including Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, also left the room when Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov began his address. Minister Heinen stated that the presence of sanctioned Russian officials risks normalizing relations, which he deems inappropriate given the ongoing conflict. He previously avoided a dinner hosted by the Thai prime minister after learning that sanctioned Russian guests were on the invitation list. While many Western allies joined the boycott, sources indicated that the United States delegation remained in the room, amid broader concerns regarding changing geopolitical policies toward Russia and ongoing global energy price adjustments.

Politics Economy Netherlands World

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Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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