EU Vows to Condemn Russia at G20 Even if Putin Attends
The EU said it will condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine during December’s G20 summit in Miami regardless of whether Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts Washington’s invitation. EU foreign chief Kaja Kallas criticized the invitation, while French far-right leader Marine Le Pen welcomed it.
The European Union has pledged to condemn Russia at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, scheduled for December, even if Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to attend. Commission deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill emphasized that the EU has utilized every G20 meeting since 2022 to condemn the war and advocate for its cessation, regardless of the participants.
Gill noted that the G20 remains a critical platform for addressing global challenges, some of which have been directly caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The summit will be presided over by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, with 19 countries, the EU, and the African Union participating.
EU foreign policy spokeswoman Kaja Kallas expressed skepticism about US President Donald Trump's decision to invite Putin, questioning whether the intelligence officers charged in a recent US indictment operate independently or receive orders from Putin. Russian officials have declined to comment until "credible evidence" emerges regarding the indictment, while French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen suggested that France may cease financial aid to Ukraine if she becomes president.
Meanwhile, Russian disinformation campaigns targeting political figures in the 2027 elections have intensified, employing deepfakes and falsified media reports. The Kremlin initially welcomed the US invitation, only to retract the statement, insisting that a decision has yet to be made. Putin and Zelensky were expected to meet during the summit, but as of Sept.
12, the Kremlin framed the encounter as "impossible," insisting on a meeting in Moscow instead. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation to Putin on Wednesday, following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN General Assembly. US President Donald Trump met with Zelensky on the sidelines of the same summit, expressing hope for Putin's willingness to end the war, though Putin has thus far avoided direct meetings with Zelensky.
Lavrov reaffirmed that the Kremlin will not halt its "special military operation" during negotiations, while Putin accused Kyiv of obstructing peace efforts, stating that Ukrainian officials speak of peace while actively preventing it.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
