Tusk Warns Putin’s G20 Invitation Could Encourage Russia
News Date: September 24, 2026
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the upcoming G20 meeting in Miami could encourage Moscow to continue its military aggression against Ukraine.
Tusk made the comments on Thursday as international attention focused on the US invitation for Putin to attend the G20 gathering scheduled for December in Florida. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that he hopes Putin will accept the invitation, describing the meeting as an opportunity for the Russian leader to engage with US President Donald Trump and other world leaders.
Tusk Raises Concern Over the Possible Message
Speaking at a news conference, Tusk said he could support Putin's participation if it genuinely helped move the conflict toward a just peace. However, he expressed concern that Russia could interpret the invitation differently.
According to Reuters, Tusk said that at the current stage of the conflict, Moscow might view the invitation as encouragement to continue its aggressive policies toward Ukraine.
His comments reflect concerns among some European governments about how renewed high-level engagement with Moscow could affect diplomatic pressure on Russia and international efforts surrounding the war in Ukraine.
US Says Meeting Could Create an Opportunity for Dialogue
The United States has presented the invitation as an opportunity for direct engagement between Putin, Trump and other G20 leaders. Rubio said Wednesday that he hoped Putin would accept the invitation.
The G20 is a major international forum bringing together leading economies to discuss global economic and political issues. Russia remains a member of the group, although Putin has not attended an in-person G20 leaders' summit since 2019.
The upcoming meeting is scheduled to take place in December in Florida.
Kremlin Considering the Invitation
The Kremlin has said that Russia is considering the US invitation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would work through diplomatic channels before making a decision about Putin's participation.
Whether Putin ultimately attends could therefore become an important issue ahead of the summit, particularly as Western governments continue to debate how diplomatic engagement with Russia should be handled.
Ukraine Remains at the Centre of the Debate
Tusk's warning comes as the war in Ukraine continues to shape European security discussions. Poland has remained one of Ukraine's prominent supporters in Europe, while Polish officials have repeatedly highlighted concerns about Russia's military and hybrid activities.
For Tusk, the key question is whether high-level diplomatic contact can contribute to peace or whether it could instead be interpreted by Moscow as a sign that international pressure is weakening.
The debate over Putin's possible G20 attendance is therefore likely to continue as the December summit approaches.
Source: Reuters reporting, September 24, 2026.
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