Rubio does not rule out inviting Zelensky to the G20 summit in Miami

In brief

• Rubio said Washington has not excluded inviting Zelensky to the December G20 summit in Miami.
• He said the decision rests with President Trump and no announcement has been made.
• Putin has already been invited to the Miami summit, and Lavrov attended a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta.

Rubio leaves door open for Zelensky at Miami G20

Asked at a press conference in Atlanta whether Ukraine's president would be invited to the G20 summit in Miami on December 14-15, Rubio said the decision belongs to the US president. He did not exclude an invitation, particularly if Zelensky's participation could produce something positive, but said he had no announcement on the matter (Рубіо: рішення про запрошення Зеленського на саміт G20 приймає Трамп – Suspilne) (Рубіо допустив, що Зеленського можуть запросити на саміт G20 – Українська правда) (Рубіо не виключив запрошення Зеленського на саміт G20 у Маямі, куди вже запросили Путіна – Espreso).

Russia already invited

Washington has already extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Miami summit, where he could meet Trump and other leaders. Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said on October 25 that any trip would depend on the outcome of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. Earlier, Putin had rejected a proposal from Zelensky to hold talks on ending the war on the sidelines of a G20 summit in the United States.

Foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta

On October 30, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, organized by Rubio. Ukraine was not invited, nor was South Africa, because only official G20 members were admitted to take part. The same day, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski passed Lavrov a message for Putin that five years of bloody war is enough and it must end.

Family photo cancelled

On October 31, the United States cancelled the traditional group photo of G20 ministers after Britain, Australia and other countries refused to take part.

Whether Zelensky will attend remains open. Rubio's remarks made clear that no decision has been announced and that the final call rests with Trump.