Freeland joins finance leaders in G20 walkout over Russian invasion of Ukraine

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freelandjoinedofficials from other national governments in a walkout at a G20meeting Wednesday when the Russian delegationspoke at the event.

In a tweet Wednesday afternoon, Freeland who is in Washington, D.C. for themeeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs said Russia "should not be participating or included in these meetings" because of its invasion of Ukraine.

"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," Freeland said in the tweet.

She added that the world's democracies wanted to send a message to Russia with the walkout.

"The world's democracies will not stand idly by in the face of continued Russian aggression and war crimes," Freeland tweeted.

Freeland hasspoken out before against Russian war crimes in Ukraineand has said Canada will work with allies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's governmenthas called for Russia to be suspended fromthe G20.

Other finance leaders seen walking out include Ukrainian Finance Minister SerhiyMarchenko, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem,Chair of the United States Federal Reserve Jerome Powell, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.