Rubio says Washington may invite Zelensky to December G20 summit in Miami
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington could invite President Volodymyr Zelensky to the December G20 summit in Miami if his participation could produce positive results, with President Donald Trump to make the final decision. The United States has already invited Vladimir Putin, but the Kremlin has not confirmed whether he will attend.
Key points
- The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14-15, 2026, in Miami, Florida.
- President Donald Trump will make the final decision on any invitation to Zelensky.
- No official announcement about inviting Zelensky had been made by October 31.
- The United States has already invited Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The Kremlin confirmed Russia's participation in the G20 but had not confirmed Putin's personal attendance.
- Zelensky said he was ready to attend and meet Putin if the Russian president was present.
- Rubio said Washington was prepared to mediate provided it could communicate with both Ukraine and Russia.
Why it matters
A formal invitation would put Zelensky and Putin at the same international forum, potentially creating an opportunity for diplomatic contacts and turning the G20 summit into a venue for Ukraine-Russia negotiations. It would also test whether Russia's participation in the forum can be reconciled with European concerns over accountability for Russian war crimes.
What happened
On October 31 in Atlanta, following a meeting of G20 foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington might invite Zelensky to the December 14-15 leaders' summit in Miami if his presence could help produce positive results. Trump will make the final decision, and no official invitation had been announced at the time of Rubio's remarks. The United States has already invited Putin, while the Kremlin confirmed Russia's participation in the G20 without confirming the Russian president's personal attendance. Zelensky had said he was ready to travel to Miami and meet Putin if Putin attended.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting centered on whether Zelensky would receive an invitation and whether he could meet Putin in Miami. It also highlighted European warnings that Putin's return could normalize Russian war crimes, criticism of Sergey Lavrov's refusal to show readiness for peace negotiations, and the removal of the traditional group photograph after some participants declined to pose with Lavrov.
How international sources describe it
International coverage presented Rubio's remarks as a cautious diplomatic opening rather than evidence of an imminent settlement. It emphasized the contrast between Rubio's statement that negotiations were not close and Trump's claim that the parties were nearing an agreement, while noting that neither Zelensky's nor Putin's participation had been confirmed.
Where reporting differs
Rubio said the United States was not claiming that a negotiated settlement was close and saw no signs of an imminent agreement, while Trump said the parties were nearing an agreement and could reach important arrangements at the G20 summit. Assessments of Putin's attendance also differed: the Kremlin had not confirmed his participation, while one media report estimated that he would likely skip the Miami summit and attend the APEC forum in China instead.
Background
The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14-15 in Miami. Washington has invited Putin, but the Kremlin had not confirmed his personal attendance. Zelensky had said he was ready to attend and meet Putin if the Russian president were present. Rubio said contacts with Russian representatives do not legitimize Moscow's actions or support its position, but communication is needed because a peaceful settlement requires talks involving both sides and because the United States wants to limit escalation risks associated with Russia's nuclear arsenal.