US invites Putin to G20 summit in Miami, marking shift from isolation

The United States has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit scheduled for December in Miami, a move that would mark the first major international summit with the Russian leader present since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The invitation was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a press conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It represents a significant reversal of the diplomatic isolation the United States and its allies had imposed on Russia following the start of the war.

The Kremlin has not yet publicly responded to the invitation. The move is likely to raise concerns among Ukraine and European Union countries, many of which have maintained sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Moscow throughout the conflict.

A notable reversal

The invitation underscores a broader shift in the Trump administration's approach to Russia, which has increasingly sought direct engagement with Moscow even as the war in Ukraine continues. Officials characterized the move as an effort to find diplomatic paths forward, though critics may view it as undercutting the isolation strategy pursued since 2022.

Miami's hosting of the summit in December is expected to draw significant international attention regardless of whether Putin ultimately attends.