Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that if he encounters Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Miami later this year, he will keep their conversation brief. The annual gathering is being hosted by the U.S., with President Donald Trump expressing his desire for Putin to attend, a possibility suggested by the Kremlin. Carney, speaking at an unrelated news conference, mentioned that his message to Putin would be straightforward: “Get out of Ukraine, return all of Ukraine to its rightful owners, and stop the ongoing conflict that is causing significant casualties each month.” Carney was also questioned about whether the Trump administration should revoke Putin’s invitation, to which he replied that while there are valid concerns, it is ultimately the host’s decision on who to invite.
Putin has not participated in a G20 summit since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with an active arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently gathered G20 finance ministers in Asheville, N.C., where Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was present. The presence of Siluanov caused discomfort, according to Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who emphasized Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to visit Canada soon, following his previous visit in December for discussions with Carney and Trump aiming to resolve the conflict. Carney’s stance mirrors former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s firm message to Putin in 2014 to withdraw from Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea.
Despite recent drone strikes in Kyiv by Russia, both sides have expressed optimism about peace prospects, with Putin acknowledging support from various countries for a potential peace agreement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed hope for a new phase of diplomatic engagement to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.