Bipartisan senators question Trump inviting Putin to G20 summit in Miami
'This invitation also comes at a time when Russia’s intentions are unambiguously clear,' writes group of senators, both Democrats and Trump's Republicans
A bipartisan group of US senators has asked President Donald Trump to explain why Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to attend an upcoming Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ summit in Miami.
The senators, led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen, said Putin should not be permitted to participate in G20 events or other similar international forums held in the US.
They also urged the administration to bar sanctioned Russian officials from upcoming G20 events.
The letter was signed by senators from both Democrats and Trump’s Republican Party, including Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Sheldon Whitehouse, Roger Wicker, Michael Bennet, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Jerry Moran, Tim Kaine, Thom Tillis, John Curtis, Ruben Gallego, and Alan Armstrong.
The senators questioned the decision to invite Putin as Russia continues its war in Ukraine and amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and activities targeting Americans.
“President Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine,” the senators wrote. “Allowing him to participate in a G20 Summit in the United States raises serious concerns about legitimizing and normalizing a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilian targets every day.”
The lawmakers also cited concerns about Russia’s broader international activities, including its relationship with Iran and what they described as an increase in Russian hybrid warfare activities across Europe.
“This invitation also comes at a time when Russia’s intentions are unambiguously clear,” the senators wrote, pointing to reports that Russia has assisted Iran’s military in targeting American service members in the Middle East.
They said the US must put strong economic and political pressure on Putin to force him to the negotiating table for serious peace talks.
In late August, Trump surprised G20 finance ministers and central bankers by inviting Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to a gathering of top global economic policymakers held in the US state of North Carolina.
