Zelensky states readiness to meet Putin at Miami G20 summit in December

Readiness for direct talks in Miami

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of 20 summit scheduled for December in Miami, Florida, if both leaders receive invitations from the host nation. Speaking to the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Zelensky confirmed his intent to participate in direct discussions to resolve the war.

Yes, of course. We must go. We must meet, speak and make decisions.

He stressed that concrete diplomatic progress carries greater significance than the dialogue exchanged between the two heads of state.

The issue is not words. What I will tell him or what he wants to tell me does not matter. Results matter.

A potential bilateral discussion would mark the first face-to-face encounter between Zelensky and Putin since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will travel to Florida for the summit. Putin has not attended an in-person G20 leaders gathering since 2019.

Diplomatic track and US mediation

The diplomatic opening coincides with renewed mediation efforts by the United States, which holds the G20 presidency in 2026. American negotiators visited Kyiv and Moscow in an attempt to restart negotiations that had previously stalled. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Moscow before holding consultations in Kyiv. Zelensky characterized their dual visits as a positive development, remarking that the itinerary demonstrated respect for the Ukrainian population. Earlier in the week, US President Donald Trump held a one-hour telephone discussion with Putin regarding the conflict, an exchange the Kremlin described as constructive and sincere. Zelensky also announced that he plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Trump in late September.

Russian presence at G20 ministerials

Ahead of the December summit, Russian officials are participating in preparatory G20 ministerial sessions held across the United States. On 12 September 2026, Marat Berdyev, Russia's ambassador overseeing G20 affairs, announced that a delegation representing the ministries of Energy, Foreign Affairs, and Natural Resources will attend the energy ministerial meeting in Houston from 14 to 16 September 2026. Berdyev stated on Telegram that Russian proposals regarding energy balance variability, technological neutrality, fossil fuels, natural gas, and peaceful nuclear energy face increasing international interest. The announcement followed Western diplomatic friction over Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attending a G20 finance gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. Siluanov took a seat at the main table after an invitation from Washington and held bilateral talks with US counterpart Scott Bessent. Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne noted Western discomfort with the visit, while European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis argued against normalizing Russia's presence at international summits.

Battlefield position and air defense demands

Zelensky assessed that Ukraine approaches potential diplomatic negotiations from a firmer posture than in the previous year. He attributed this advantage to heavy Russian battlefield casualties and slow front-line territorial gains. To maintain defensive stability through the winter, Kyiv is renewing requests to the United States and European allies for additional Patriot missile systems, noting that global missile production remains insufficient for Ukraine's defensive requirements. Ukrainian authorities are also developing a domestic missile defense system known as Freya in partnership with European defense manufacturers.