Key facts
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul sees Putin's G20 invitation as an opportunity for negotiations.
- U.S. President Donald Trump invited Putin to the G20 summit in Miami.
- Many leaders, including Italy's Prime Minister and the EU's foreign affairs chief, have expressed reservations about the invitation.
- Wadephul stated that a ceasefire would be a prerequisite for meaningful talks.
- Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand called the invitation surprising but affirmed Canada's attendance for diplomacy.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on Friday that the invitation extended by U.S. President Donald Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the upcoming G20 summit in Miami could serve as an opportunity for serious negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine. Wadephul's remarks, made during a press conference with his Canadian counterpart in Ottawa, marked a more optimistic tone compared to the official German government stance.
Many international leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, have voiced strong reservations about Putin's potential attendance. However, Wadephul suggested that the invitation could be a "litmus test" for Putin to negotiate, emphasizing that such opportunities should be seized. He added that a ceasefire would be a necessary prerequisite for any meaningful discussions.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand acknowledged being surprised by Trump's invitation but confirmed that Canada would attend, viewing it as an essential aspect of diplomacy. Earlier in the week, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had indicated that the German government does not consider relations with Russia to be "business as usual" and is coordinating its response with international partners. The White House's invitation is seen as the latest U.S. attempt to reintegrate Moscow into global diplomatic forums, potentially marking Putin's first in-person G20 appearance since 2019.