Putin's return to G20 summit risks 'normalizing' Russia's war crimes in Ukraine – Kallas

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas warns that Vladimir Putin's return to the G20 summit risks normalizing Russia's war crimes in Ukraine. Kallas asserts that Russia's participation in the international forum would legitimize the daily atrocities committed by the aggressor nation, contravening the UN Charter's principles.

Notably, Putin has not yet confirmed his attendance at the December summit in the U.S., having last participated in person at a G20 meeting in 2019, three years before Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Kallas' remarks follow EU countries' growing dissatisfaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's recent attendance at a G20 ministerial gathering in Atlanta.

She argues that Europeans do not wish to be associated with Lavrov, but his presence provides an opportunity to counter Russian falsehoods. Kallas also praises the U.S. decision to provide Ukraine with 500 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, deeming it "very positive," and urges allies to continue tightening sanctions against Russia.

Kallas rejects the Pentagon's call for NATO countries to moderate their criticism of Moscow, emphasizing that silence on the threat will not mitigate it. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband criticized Lavrov during a G20 foreign ministers meeting, branding Russia an aggressor and reminding him of Russian war crimes against Ukrainians.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed readiness to attend the G20 summit in Miami and meet with Putin if the United States extended an invitation to the Kremlin leader. The U.S. intends to invite Putin to the December 14-15 leaders' summit in Miami.