Washington, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A bipartisan group of 14 US senators has urged President Donald Trump to withdraw an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami, arguing that his participation could legitimise Moscow while the war in Ukraine continues.
The senators also asked the administration to prevent sanctioned Russian officials from participating in other G20 meetings hosted by the United States.
The Miami summit is scheduled for December 14 and 15, with the United States holding the G20 presidency this year. The letter was led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and signed by seven Republicans and seven Democrats.
The Republican signatories include Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Roger Wicker, Jerry Moran, Thom Tillis, John Curtis and Alan Armstrong. Democratic signatories include Shaheen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Michael Bennet, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Tim Kaine and Ruben Gallego.
“President Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine,” the senators wrote, expressing concern that his participation in a G20 summit on US soil could legitimise and normalise the Russian government.
The lawmakers also cited reports alleging Russian assistance to Iran’s military in targeting US service members in the Middle East, along with what they described as increased Russian hybrid warfare activity in Europe and continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The senators argued that Putin and other sanctioned Russian officials should not receive routine diplomatic treatment at meetings focused on international trade, finance and economic stability.
They pointed to Putin and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov being under US sanctions and objected to Russian participation in G20 ministerial meetings already held in the United States. These included the Finance Ministerial in Asheville, North Carolina, the Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill and the Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston.
The lawmakers welcomed Trump’s signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, saying the legislation provides additional tools to pressure Moscow. The measure targets Russian officials and entities linked to the country’s war effort and sanctions evasion.
The senators urged Trump to block sanctioned Russian officials from the G20 Trade Ministerial, Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Miami leaders’ summit until Russia agrees to a peace settlement.
The G20 brings together major economies, including India, the United States, Russia, China and the European Union, for discussions on global economic and financial issues.
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