Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to keep any potential interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin brief if they meet at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. The annual summit, hosted by the U.S., may include Putin, as indicated by the Kremlin earlier this year.
During an unrelated press briefing, Carney mentioned that his message to Putin, if present at the summit in December, would be direct and concise. Carney emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict in Ukraine, urging Putin to withdraw from the region and put an end to the ongoing war that has claimed thousands of lives monthly.
When asked about the invitation extended to Putin by the Trump administration, Carney acknowledged the valid concerns about Putin’s attendance but noted that it is at the host’s discretion to invite world leaders. Putin has not attended a G20 summit since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and there is an active arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court.
Recently, G20 finance ministers gathered in Asheville, N.C., with both Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in attendance. The presence of Siluanov sparked discomfort among some attendees, including Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who expressed Canada’s support for Ukraine and discomfort over Russia’s involvement.
Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to visit Canada soon. Zelenskyy’s last visit was in December, where he met with Carney before engaging with Trump to discuss strategies for ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Carney’s stance mirrors former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s direct approach to Putin during the 2014 G20 summit, where Harper urged Putin to vacate Ukraine after annexing Crimea. Despite recent drone strikes in Kyiv by Russia, both sides have indicated optimism about the potential for peace, with Putin mentioning support from various countries for a peaceful resolution.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed hope for renewed diplomatic efforts to promote peace between Russia and Ukraine. He highlighted the importance of international engagement in resolving the conflict and hinted at a new phase of diplomatic dialogue to address the ongoing crisis.
