A group of 14 U.S. senators — seven Democrats and seven Republicans — on September 25 urged U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider the decision to invite Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in the United States.
In an open letter, the lawmakers expressed concern that Putin’s participation in the event could grant him the “status and legitimacy” of a world leader, despite Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and the Russian Federation’s actions against U.S. national security interests.
The summit of leaders of the Group of Twenty countries is scheduled to take place on December 14–15 in Miami, at the Trump National Doral Miami golf resort. The Russian leader was invited to the event, including in the context of negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Putin bears full responsibility for Russia’s launch of a full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Allowing him to participate in the G20 summit in the United States raises serious concerns about legitimizing and normalizing a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilian sites every day.”
The senators recalled Putin’s actions against the Ukrainian people and called on Trump to reconsider allowing the Russian leader to appear in the United States as a world leader at the G20 summit.
Who signed the letter
Among the signatories of the appeal is Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The letter was also signed by Democrat Richard Blumenthal, a co-author of the “hell sanctions” bill against Russia.
The United States also supports an energy truce. Ukraine is ready to support it, provided that Russia adheres to the agreements.
