US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami, scheduled for December. The summit presents an opportunity for Putin to engage not only with Trump but also with other world leaders. Rubio expressed hope that Putin would accept the invitation. This move comes as Washington seeks to secure a deal to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The invitation was announced amid ongoing efforts by Washington to broker a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for over four years. Trump has stated that he is working with both sides to stop the war. Rubio emphasized the importance of meeting with counterparts, even those with whom there are disagreements, to resolve problems. He made these remarks after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York.
The meeting between Rubio and Lavrov occurred on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to address the assembly. Zelensky is expected to appeal for better air defenses against Russian drones and missiles. Lavrov, speaking at the UN Security Council, stated that Moscow would not halt its military operation in Ukraine. He accused Europe of wanting to use a halt to the fighting to arm the Kyiv regime.
Lavrov's comments drew a response from Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, who stated that his counterpart's remarks spoke for themselves. Sybiga later added that Russia's war against Europe was no longer hybrid and that Russia was spreading war instead of safeguarding peace. This, he emphasized, was a problem for everyone. Fifty-one countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in a joint declaration.
The joint declaration, issued on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, expressed particular concern over attacks in the Black Sea. The signatory countries called for efforts to safeguard commercial shipping and critical infrastructure, as Russia's actions were seen as an attempt to choke off Ukrainian grain exports. Rubio also encouraged Moscow and Kyiv to reach an energy ceasefire, which could create a platform for a broader agreement.
Rubio noted that both sides had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire involving energy. Ukrainian President Zelensky has stated that Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian energy sites if Moscow agrees to do likewise. This follows Trump's call on Zelensky to stop hitting diesel refineries. After meeting with Trump, Zelensky said that Washington and Kyiv want the war with Russia to end before winter.
The last meeting between Trump and Putin took place in 2025, and since then, they have only spoken by telephone on various occasions. On a separate note, Rubio warned that the West Bank becoming a new crisis would be detrimental to Israel and the wider region. He emphasized that an additional crisis or friction point in the region would be undesirable.
Key points
- US President Donald Trump invites Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Miami.
- The invitation comes amid ongoing efforts to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Fifty-one countries reaffirm their support for Ukraine in a joint declaration.
