Trump: Putin’s Presence at G20 Summit Would Be Very Useful

Speaking at a White House press conference on Thursday, Trump expressed the view that Putin “would be very offended” by Russia’s expulsion from the Group of Eight (G8) in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea.

“I would say maybe we wouldn’t have had these problems if you hadn’t kicked him out,” he added. “I believe you have to talk to everyone.”

“I doubt he would come,” he said specifically about Putin. “But if he came, it would be very useful.”

Russia remains a formal member of the G20 but has not participated in any summit since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 and has been sidelined following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes in March 2023, creating legal issues for countries that have ratified the Rome Statute—although the U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2002.

The issue came to the fore following a Washington Post report on the same day, according to which Trump intends to invite Putin to the summit scheduled for December at the Doral golf resort owned by the president himself in Miami. U.S. government officials stated that Russia is welcome at the G20 meetings, although no official invitations have yet been issued.

From the Russian side, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin may travel to Miami as a G20 member, or he may not, and another representative could be sent. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin also claimed that Russia has been invited at the leadership level, though he did not provide further details.

Trump has not confirmed sending an invitation to Putin himself, while emphasizing the need for dialogue with all parties involved. The G20 summit in Miami is expected to attract significant attention, as it will be the first major international meeting under Trump’s presidency if he is re-elected.