The United States has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 Summit in December, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, raising the possibility of a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Rubio said Washington hoped Putin would accept the invitation, as the G20 would provide an opportunity for the Russian leader to interact with Trump and other world leaders.
"We've invited President Putin to the G20," Rubio said.
However, Rubio clarified that Putin's attendance had not been confirmed and that no new bilateral summit between Trump and Putin had been discussed.
Asked whether Washington was seeking another Trump-Putin summit, Rubio said, "That hasn't been discussed."
He added that if Putin attended the G20 and there was a specific purpose for a meeting, the two presidents could hold talks. Otherwise, the summit itself would still provide an opportunity for them to speak.
Rubio said the Trump administration remained open to engagement with Moscow as it sought an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He added that Trump was willing to meet leaders with whom he disagreed, but such meetings needed preparation and a clear objective.
Trump and Putin have also spoken by phone several times since Trump took office. Rubio estimated that the two leaders had spoken at least a dozen times, while noting that he did not have an exact count.
US discusses limited Russia-Ukraine ceasefire
Rubio's comments came as US officials continued diplomatic discussions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said both sides had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy infrastructure, although reaching such an agreement would be difficult.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had discussed the proposal with US officials, Rubio said. The idea was also raised during a meeting involving US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.
Washington would be willing to support such an arrangement if it could play a constructive role, Rubio said.
He stressed that a limited ceasefire would not bring an end to the war but could reduce some of its wider consequences and potentially serve as a starting point for broader negotiations.
Rubio said the conflict would ultimately have to end through a negotiated agreement.
Energy infrastructure remains key issue
Attacks on energy infrastructure have emerged as a major obstacle to a limited ceasefire. Rubio said Ukraine has targeted Russian oil and gas facilities that generate revenue for Moscow, while Russia has targeted Ukraine's electricity infrastructure as winter approaches.
Both sides therefore continue to view energy infrastructure as an important part of their respective war strategies.
The G20 brings together major economies, including the US, Russia, India and China. The leaders' summit also provides opportunities for bilateral and informal discussions alongside the formal agenda.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has had wider consequences for global energy and food markets, making efforts to protect grain and energy infrastructure an important part of international diplomatic discussions
.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to the United States in December to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Florida, where US President Donald Trump is scheduled to host leaders of the world's major economies. The Indian government, however, has not yet formally confirmed Modi's visit.For India, Modi's potential December visit could therefore involve several important diplomatic engagements, including talks with Trump, possible Quad discussions and interactions with other G20 leaders. However, the Indian government has yet to formally confirm Modi's US or Canada travel plans.
