Russia continues to be a full member of the ‘Group of 20’, and its representatives are entitled to attend all meetings within this framework. However, the European Union does not miss an opportunity to use this international forum to condemn Moscow’s actions, in particular its military operations in Ukraine. Olof Gill, a spokesperson for the European Commission, outlined the EU’s position on this matter.
The question of Vladimir Putin’s possible participation in the upcoming G20 summit in Miami has sparked keen interest. Amidst a flurry of speculation and conjecture, EU representatives remain committed to their policy of condemning Russia’s actions since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Gill emphasised that the European Union would continue to act in the same spirit, regardless of the composition of the summit’s participants.
This raises the question of whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, known for her hardline stance on Russia, is prepared to be in the same room as Putin. The European Commission spokesperson avoided giving a direct answer, noting that the situation is still evolving.
There is also interest in the possibility of a trilateral summit between Ukraine, Russia and the US. However, Gill noted that it is still too early to discuss the EU’s participation in such a format; it is merely one of several ideas currently under discussion.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed its gratitude for the invitation extended to Putin to attend the summit by the United States, but it remains unclear whether the Russian leader will accept this offer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his part, saw the upcoming G20 summit as an opportunity to organise trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the US and Russia, which could yield “real results”. It seems the international arena is bracing itself for new twists and unexpected meetings that could alter the balance of power.