Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that if he encounters Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit later this year, he intends to keep their conversation brief. The annual gathering is set to take place in Miami, hosted by the U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire for Putin to attend. Carney emphasized that his message to Putin would be straightforward: “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.”
In response to questions during an unrelated news conference, Carney also addressed the possibility of Trump withdrawing the invitation to Putin. Carney acknowledged that there are valid reasons to exclude Putin but emphasized that it is ultimately the host’s prerogative to extend invitations.
Putin has not participated in a G20 summit since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, for which the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against him. Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted G20 finance ministers, including Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, in Asheville, N.C.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed discomfort over Siluanov’s presence at the meeting, stating Canada’s firm support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Canada next week, following his previous visit in December, which included discussions with Carney and Trump aimed at resolving the conflict.
Carney’s stance on Putin echoes former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s direct approach during the 2014 G20 summit, where he urged Putin to withdraw from Ukraine after annexing Crimea. Despite recent drone strikes by Russia in Kyiv, both sides have expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for peace settlement, with Putin suggesting that several countries, including the U.S. and China, may support such efforts.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed hope for a new phase of engagement in peace efforts, emphasizing the need for diplomatic resolutions between Russia and Ukraine. He hinted at a potential shift in the peace process but did not provide further details, urging reporters to stay updated on developments.