Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that if he encounters Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit, he will keep their conversation brief. The annual event, hosted by the U.S. in Miami, is expected to include Putin, as indicated by the Kremlin earlier this year.
Carney, speaking at an unrelated news conference, mentioned that his message to Putin would be direct and simple: “Get out of Ukraine, give back all of Ukraine to Ukraine, end this war which is killing more than 30,000 of your people every single month.” When asked about the Trump administration’s decision to invite Putin, Carney acknowledged that there are valid reasons to exclude him but emphasized that it is at the host’s discretion to extend invitations.
Putin has not attended a G20 summit since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to an active arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him. Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted G20 finance ministers, including Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, in Asheville, N.C.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed discomfort over Siluanov’s presence at the meeting, emphasizing Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Canada soon, following his last visit in December for discussions with Carney and Trump aimed at resolving the conflict.
Carney’s stance mirrors former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s firm message to Putin during the 2014 G20 summit. Despite ongoing tensions, both sides expressed optimism about peace prospects, with Putin mentioning potential support from countries like the U.S. and China for a peace settlement.
As the situation unfolds, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha highlighted a renewed diplomatic engagement, hinting at a potentially positive shift in peace efforts.