Bipartisan Letter Challenges Putin's Invitation
Fourteen U.S. lawmakers from both parties are pressing President Donald Trump to take back the invitation he sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the next G20 gathering in Miami. These senators, who sit on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, cautioned that having Putin present might confer legitimacy on and normalize a regime that keeps striking Ukrainian civilian sites daily, The Washington Post reported. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spearheaded the letter, joined by six more Democrats and six Republicans.[S1]
The lawmakers noted that U.S. sanctions already cover Putin, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and other figures in Moscow's delegation. In their view, softening Putin's diplomatic isolation might lessen the incentive for Moscow to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation on Sept. 23, saying Putin had been asked to the summit as part of an effort to create chances for him to interact with Trump and other world leaders.[S1]
G20 as a Stage for Ukraine Debate
Whether Putin shows up matters greatly, since the G20 has often served as a stage for disputes over Russia's war in Ukraine. During the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg, Western leaders described a U.S.-backed peace framework as containing valuable elements but needing more work, warning that certain provisions might leave Ukraine exposed to future Russian strikes. Earlier this month, Zelensky said he would be willing to go to the Miami summit and meet Putin there should the Russian leader attend. Siluanov took part in a G20 finance ministers meeting in North Carolina last month, which drew criticism from some U.S. senators and European officials.[S1]
