Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed his intention to keep any potential discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin brief if they meet at the upcoming G20 summit. The annual event, hosted by the U.S. in Miami, has seen President Donald Trump extend an invitation to Putin, which the Kremlin has hinted at accepting.
Speaking at an unrelated press briefing, Carney outlined his straightforward message to Putin if they cross paths at the summit in December. He emphasized the need for Putin to “Get out of Ukraine, give back all of Ukraine to Ukraine, end this war which is killing more than 30,000 of your people every single month,” adding that he would leave it at that.
Addressing questions about whether the Trump administration should retract the invitation to Putin, Carney noted that while there are valid concerns about Putin’s attendance, it ultimately falls within the host’s prerogative to determine the guest list.
Putin’s attendance at the G20 summit holds significance as he has not participated in the event since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to an active arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court.
Recent interactions between finance ministers at the G20 meeting in Asheville, N.C., underscored tensions surrounding Russia’s presence. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne highlighted the discomfort caused by Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov’s participation, reiterating Canada’s steadfast support for the Ukrainian people.
In a similar vein, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Canada in the coming week, with previous discussions held between Zelenskyy and Carney in Halifax. The anticipation of Zelenskyy’s visit coincides with efforts to address the ongoing conflict, reminiscent of past encounters like the one between former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Putin at the 2014 G20 summit.
Despite recent drone strikes in Kyiv by Russia, both sides have expressed optimism regarding peace prospects, with Putin acknowledging support from countries like the U.S. and China for a potential peace settlement.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed hope for a new phase of engagement to resolve the conflict, signaling a potential shift towards peace talks involving key global capitals.