Preparations by the U.S. for the Potential Participation of Putin in the 2026 G20 Summit
Svetlana Lukash, Russia’s Sherpa representative in the G20, announced that the United States is preparing for the possible participation of President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming summit scheduled for December 2026.
Lukash made her comments during an interview with the “Novosti” agency, on the sidelines of the initial meetings of G20 representatives, which took place in Washington on December 15 and 16. This marks the beginning of the U.S. presidency of the forum for 2026.
The Russian official explained that the United States, as the host nation, is considering President Putin’s attendance at the summit, which is set to be held in Miami, Florida, in December next year.
The preliminary meetings of G20 representatives were held in Washington under the new U.S. presidency, following the official assumption of leadership by the United States on December 1, 2025, overseeing the agenda for the entire year of 2026.
Previously, former President Donald Trump announced that the next G20 summit would be taking place in Florida, within the context of a U.S. presidency that has outlined several priorities, including lifting economic restrictions, creating secure and affordable energy supply chains, and integrating modern technologies across various sectors.
It is worth noting that the G20 was established in 1999 as an informal forum aimed at coordinating efforts among major advanced and emerging economies to maintain global economic stability. Its focus has since expanded to encompass broader economic and geopolitical issues.
The group currently includes 19 countries, in addition to the African Union and the European Union, collectively representing about 85 percent of the global GDP and approximately 75 percent of international trade.
