Trump challenges Western critics for inviting Putin to the G20

Trump says he will welcome Putin to the G20 meeting in Miami despite European allies criticizing his trip to Moscow. Read the full article on RT.com.

US President Donald Trump has said that despite the efforts of Ukraine and European countries to isolate Moscow, he will welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 meeting in Florida.

After returning to power in early 2025, Trump has broken with many of his Western allies, who have suspended high-level meetings with Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed last month that Putin had been invited to a meeting scheduled for December 14-15 in Miami.

Asked whether the Russian leader would attend, Trump told reporters on Friday: "I don't know if he's coming. I'd certainly like to have him."

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said last month that the Kremlin was grateful for the invitation, but had not yet decided whether Putin would attend. He added that Russia "will actively participate in the work of the Group of 20."

I would certainly like to have Putin at the G20.

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 16, 2026

The invitation was criticized by European Union officials and a bipartisan group of US senators. "In my opinion, it's clearly the wrong way to normalize people who start wars," said Kaja Kalas, the EU's top diplomat.

Trump has defended his engagement with Moscow as part of his efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Ex-Austrian Foreign Minister - Trump-Putin Diesel Deal Defeats West Against Russia

Following a phone call with Putinavail this month, Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports in an effort to prevent energy prices from rising ahead of the US midterm elections. The move drew further criticism from Ukraine and its European backers, with Ukrainian leader Zelensky saying he felt betrayed. Trump suggested that Ukraine should get a "new president" and described Zelensky as "not a good person to deal with."

Trump has revived direct talks with Russia that were suspended under his predecessor, Joe Biden, in 2022 after the Ukraine conflict escalated. His efforts to broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev have caused friction with Ukraine and European allies.

Presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have visited Moscow together three times since December 2025, while Witkoff has made eight trips to the Russian capital since Trump returned to power.

Trump and Putin last met on August 15, 2025 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Silvanov attended the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina, August 31-September 1, 2026. This was his first appearance at the G20 meeting since February 2022.