Trump’s G20 invite to Putin is an ‘opportunity,’ German foreign minister says
Johann Wadephul’s remarks diverged from the German government’s official line.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed optimism on Friday regarding the potential for "serious negotiations" to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. Trump had invited Putin to the December meeting, despite many leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, expressing reservations.
Wadephul called the invitation a "litmus test" for Putin to engage in negotiations, adding that taking advantage of such opportunities was necessary. However, the German government's official stance differed from Wadephul's comments, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesperson stating that Germany views relations with Russia as not being "business as usual" and that they were coordinating a joint response with partners.
The German foreign ministry did not respond to inquiries immediately. The U.S. effort to bring Moscow back into the diplomatic fold was highlighted as the White House's latest move, potentially leading to Putin's first in-person G20 appearance since 2019.
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