Putin could attend G20 summit in Miami, Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Miami, although Washington has not yet received confirmation of his participation.

Rubio made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking to reporters in India, where he was asked whether Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would attend the G20 summit in Miami or a foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled to take place in Atlanta.

“There’s the potential that Putin might come to the one in Miami as well, although we don’t have confirmation on that,” Rubio said.

He explained that Russia had been invited to participate in the G20 following a decision by US President Donald Trump, adding that Moscow would therefore be represented at the group’s meetings.

“Well, the Russians are invited to be a part of the G20, the president made that decision. So obviously they're going to be represented at each of these summits,” Rubio said.

However, the US secretary of state was uncertain whether Lavrov would personally attend the foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta.

“I don't know if he himself is coming. I expect he might. I think he told us he was in the last time we engaged with him,” Rubio said.

Russia’s participation in the meetings would bring its representatives into discussions involving G20 members at a time when relations between Moscow and Western governments remain strained over Russia’s war in Ukraine and other geopolitical issues.