The European Union (EU) announced on Thursday that it will continue to condemn Russia's war in Ukraine at the G20 summit taking place in December in Miami. This action will be taken regardless of whether Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, attends the summit or not. The United States, as the host of the summit, has sent an invitation to Putin, and the Kremlin has stated that Putin will "think about" this invitation.
History of Putin's Absence
Vladimir Putin did not attend the last two G20 summits held in 2022 in Bali, Indonesia, and in 2023 in New Delhi, India, despite official invitations. This absence comes as many countries, including G20 members, are calling for Russia's expulsion from the group due to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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Recent Attacks and Their Consequences
On Thursday, eight people were killed following a series of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. Ukraine's Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, stated that these attacks severely damaged the Kharkiv region, where at least six agricultural workers lost their lives. Additionally, two more people were killed in Kyiv. These attacks also damaged the port city of Odessa, leading to a fire in a shopping center.
EU spokesperson Olaf Gale emphasized: "Since 2022, the EU has consistently and firmly used G20 meetings to condemn Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and called for its end." He added that this approach will continue from the EU's perspective, regardless of the participants at any G20 meeting.
It is noteworthy that Russia is still recognized as a member of the G20 group and has the right to participate in its meetings. The EU and three of its member states, including France, Germany, and Italy, are also G20 members. These countries, along with other allies of Ukraine, including the UK and Canada, have called for Russia's expulsion from this group.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that Washington has invited Putin to attend this summit. He said after meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York: "This is an opportunity for him to engage not only with the President of the United States but also with other world leaders."
Putin last visited the United States on August 15, 2025, to attend a summit with Donald Trump. This trip also marked his first visit to a Western country since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
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