Key facts
- President Volodymyr Zelensky believes the G20 summit in Miami is a strong opportunity for a trilateral meeting with the US and Russia.
- The G20 summit is scheduled to take place in December.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Washington would invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the summit.
- Zelensky said Ukraine would support a trilateral meeting if parties agree.
- Zelensky and Putin last met in person in December 2019.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin's last visit to the US was in August 2025 for talks with President Donald Trump.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on September 24, 2026, that the upcoming G20 summit in Miami presents a significant opportunity for a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. This statement follows U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement that Washington intends to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the summit, scheduled for December.
Zelensky expressed support for such a meeting, viewing it as a potential avenue for productive discussions. He believes the G20's international economic forum setting, with participation from European partners, China, India, and Middle Eastern states, could foster an atmosphere conducive to achieving results. The Ukrainian president noted that direct contact between himself and Putin, who have avoided bilateral talks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, could occur at the summit. Their last in-person meeting was in December 2019 during Normandy Format talks.
The Kremlin has responded positively to the invitation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated on September 23, 2026, that Russia is grateful for the invitation and will consider it through diplomatic channels. If Putin attends, it would mark his second visit to the U.S. during President Donald Trump's second term, following a meeting in Alaska in August 2025 that did not yield major breakthroughs.