US invites Vladimir Putin to December G20 summit in Miami as European leaders push back

The invitation in New York

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on September 23 that Washington formally invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit scheduled for December 14–15 in Miami, Florida. The offer was delivered following a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The United States holds the rotating presidency of the G20 economic forum this year. Rubio stated that direct dialogue remains necessary when dealing with difficult international partners, framing the summit as an opportunity for Putin to engage directly with US President Donald Trump and other world leaders.

Kremlin review and war posture

The Kremlin stated that it is considering the proposal and will determine its participation through diplomatic channels. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Russian officials appreciate the invitation, though he noted that deciding on an agenda or confirming attendance remains premature. Trump has sought to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine since returning to the White House in January 2025. Peskov reaffirmed that Russia is pursuing a comprehensive peace settlement rather than a temporary ceasefire, while Lavrov told the UN Security Council that Russian forces will not pause military operations.

It is premature to speak about this right now. No decision has been made yet. We certainly appreciate this kind invitation, we value it, and it will be reviewed and coordinated, after which an appropriate decision will be reached.

European response and boycott rejection

The European Union confirmed that it will not boycott the December gathering in Florida despite reservations about Putin attending. EU spokesman Olof Gill stated that Russia retains legal membership in the G20 and possesses the right to participate in group sessions. Gill emphasized that European representatives plan to attend in full force to ensure European interests in Ukraine are defended directly at the table rather than ceded to bilateral discussions between Washington and Moscow. In addition to the European Union as an institution, member states France, Germany, and Italy hold individual seats at the summit alongside allies such as the United Kingdom and Canada.

Since 2022, the EU has consistently and forcefully used G20 meetings to condemn Russia's full-scale invasion and to call for it to end. What I can say today is that this approach, from the European Union perspective, will continue, irrespective of the participants at any G20 meeting.

Pushback from Warsaw, Paris, and Rome

Leaders across European capitals voiced concern over the diplomatic optics of hosting the Russian president on American soil. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that offering Putin a seat at the forum risks validating Russian territorial ambitions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued that the international community should demand tangible Russian concessions before granting diplomatic elevation. French President Emmanuel Macron declared that no decisions regarding the future of Ukraine should occur without the direct involvement of Ukraine and European governments, while German officials in Berlin stated that relations with Moscow cannot return to normal while hostilities continue.

If inviting Putin to the G20 could bring us closer to a just peace, I would be absolutely in favour of it. However - and this is both my concern and what my experience tells me - at this stage, Russia might well view it as an encouragement to continue its aggressive policies. That is what I fear.