Washington/Atlanta, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has said he will invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the G20 summit in Florida in December, signalling a possible Ukrainian presence at the gathering after Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier left the option open.
Trump’s statement came hours after Rubio said in Atlanta that the decision on Zelensky’s participation rested with the US President and that he would not rule out an invitation.
“That would be up to the President to decide. I wouldn’t rule it out,” Rubio said, adding that he had no announcement on the matter at the time.
Trump’s subsequent remarks indicated his intention to extend an invitation, although details of Ukraine’s participation and its proposed role at the summit were not specified.
Speaking at a press conference in Atlanta, Rubio said Washington’s immediate priority remained securing a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He said the US continued to engage with both sides and was being encouraged by other countries to sustain its diplomatic efforts.
Rubio referred to attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, civilian casualties and the long-term challenge of rebuilding the country’s economy and electricity network.
He also warned of the risk of the conflict spreading, citing acts of sabotage and drones entering the airspace of NATO countries.
“There’s a lot of danger involved in that as well,” he said.
Alongside efforts to achieve a broader settlement, Rubio said the US was examining proposals to protect grain and energy shipments in the Black Sea. He identified Türkiye and India as countries contributing ideas on the issue.
Asked whether discussions in Atlanta had improved the prospects for a limited ceasefire, Rubio declined to predict the likelihood of an agreement.
“I would say there’s interest in facilitating it,” he said.
Rubio noted that Türkiye had consistently pursued the issue, while India had also expressed interest in putting forward proposals. He said an agreement on shipping would not resolve the underlying war but could reduce some of its international consequences.
“We’d like to see it happen. It doesn’t solve the war problem, but at least it diminishes some of the impact – spillover impact that it’s having on the food security of vulnerable countries,” he said.
The G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta was part of preparations for the leaders’ summit scheduled to be held in Doral, Florida, in December.
Rubio said the US presidency had focused the ministerial agenda on economic issues, including energy, supply chains, critical minerals and freedom of navigation
FOLLOW NOW
