The European Union intends to use the upcoming G20 summit in Miami to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, regardless of whether Vladimir Putin attends.

The European Union has confirmed it will use the upcoming G20 summit in Miami to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, regardless of whether Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts an invitation from the United States to attend. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the invitation on Wednesday, stating the White House hopes Putin will engage with President Donald Trump and other world leaders at the December meeting.

Diplomatic Tensions Over Invitation

The U.S. invitation has drawn criticism from European leaders who have sought to isolate Russia since the 2022 invasion. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern that the invitation could be viewed as encouragement for Russia's aggressive policies, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the treatment of Putin is difficult to understand. The Kremlin has acknowledged the invitation, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that Moscow appreciates the offer and will make a decision on attendance in due course.

EU Stance on G20 Participation

The European Commission stated that the EU will continue its established approach of using G20 forums to condemn Russia's actions and call for an end to the war. Olof Gill, deputy chief spokesperson for the Commission, noted that Russia continues to escalate attacks on civilians, citing July and August as the deadliest months since the conflict began. The EU will be represented at the summit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.