US invitation puts Putin’s G20 attendance in question
Washington says the December Miami summit could give Russia’s president a chance to engage with world leaders. The Kremlin has yet to decide whether he will attend.
The United States has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as Washington maintains contact with Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Rubio announced the invitation after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He described the summit as an opportunity for Putin to engage with the US president and other world leaders.
The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said no decision had been made and that the invitation would be reviewed and coordinated.
An in-person appearance would be Putin’s first at a G20 summit since 2019. He attended virtually in 2021, while Russia sent Lavrov in 2023.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticised the invitation, saying she would raise it with other G20 members. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it could encourage Russia to continue its attacks on Ukraine, while adding he would support the invitation if it helped bring about a just peace.
