Merz says he will not avoid talking to Putin if he attends G20 summit in Miami

In brief

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would not avoid talking to Vladimir Putin if the Russian leader attends the G20 summit in Miami in December.
• Putin has not confirmed his attendance, and the invitation came from the Trump administration in September.
• The invitation has sparked debate among Western allies while Russia's war against Ukraine continues.

Merz open to talks at G20

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany would not avoid a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin if he shows up at the G20 summit in Miami in December (Мерц заявил, что готов поговорить с Путиным на саммите G20 в США – NV). He made the remarks during a public town-hall style discussion with residents of Hagen, a city in western Germany.

Asked by a journalist whether a meeting with Putin was possible, Merz said he was ready for such a dialogue if the Russian president arrives. He noted that the host country has the right to invite additional heads of state and government, and that, as far as he knows, the Trump administration has extended an invitation to Putin.

Kremlin attendance unconfirmed

Merz also said Putin had not yet confirmed his participation in the summit. The Kremlin has not publicly committed to attending, leaving the question open weeks before the gathering.

Background to the invitation

The White House invited Putin to the G20 in September, a move that drew debate among Washington's Western allies while Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine continues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said he would be willing to meet Putin in a G20 format in Miami, and he reaffirmed that readiness after meeting Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22.

For now, the outcome depends on Putin's decision. Merz's statement signals that Berlin would not refuse direct contact if the two leaders end up in the same room.