The Trump administration has formally invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit at Trump National Doral Miami on December 14-15, 2026. Announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the move signals a major reversal of Russia's international isolation since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The invitation draws sharp criticism from domestic lawmakers and European allies, especially as Russia continues its heavy aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities like Kyiv.
The G20 Invitation and Venue
- ▪President Donald Trump previously attempted to host a G7 summit at his National Doral Golf Club in 2020, but canceled the plans amid public outrage and the COVID-19 pandemic
- ▪The Trump administration formally invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the December 14-15, 2026 G20 summit at President Donald Trump's private golf resort, Trump National Doral Miami, Florida
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami on September 23, 2026, following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the United Nations General Assembly
Putin's Travel and Legal Status
- ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin has an active arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity related to the invasion of Ukraine
- ▪If Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the G20 summit in Miami, it will mark his first in-person attendance at a G20 leaders' summit since 2019 and his first visit to the contiguous United States since September 2015
Past Diplomatic Engagements with Russia
- ▪The Trump administration previously bypassed Russia's diplomatic isolation by hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August 2025 and allowing sanctioned Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to attend a G20 meeting in North Carolina in 2026
- ▪European officials previously expressed anger over the Trump administration's decision to invite sanctioned Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to a G20 ministerial meeting in August 2026, with those European officials refusing to take a group photo with him
Russia Sanctions Bill
- ▪Democrats mostly opposed the Russia sanctions bill that Donald Trump signed, arguing it gave Donald Trump too much power to levy tariffs that could be used against United States allies
- ▪The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the invitation to Putin for the G20 summit, stating that the Trump administration has no intention of isolating Russia despite Donald Trump signing a sweeping Russia sanctions bill five days prior
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