US Secretary of State Rubio defended Washington’s decision to invite Russia to
this year’s G20, saying dialogue is the only path to end the Ukraine war and
that meeting a leader does not equal endorsing their actions. Rubio said
President Trump considers Russian participation important and that a Trump‑Putin
meeting could occur beforehand, possibly on the sidelines of next month’s APEC;
the Kremlin has not yet replied to the invitation. EU foreign policy chief
Kallas warned Putin’s attendance could normalize Russia’s return to
international forums while the conflict continues. Rubio added that, beyond
Ukraine, direct US‑Russia talks are necessary given Russia’s large nuclear
arsenal and the need to avoid escalation.
