Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that if he encounters Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit, he intends to keep their conversation brief. The annual summit, to be hosted by the U.S. in Miami, may see Putin’s attendance, as suggested by the Kremlin earlier this year.
Speaking at a news conference unrelated to the summit, Carney shared that his message to Putin would be direct and concise: “Get out of Ukraine, give back all of Ukraine to Ukraine, end this war which is killing more than 30,000 of your people every single month,” he remarked.
When asked about the possibility of the Trump administration retracting the invitation to Putin, Carney noted that while there are valid reasons to exclude Putin, the decision ultimately rests with the host. Putin has not participated in a G20 summit since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and there is an active arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court.
During a recent gathering of G20 finance ministers in Asheville, N.C., hosted by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was present. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne of Canada expressed discomfort over Siluanov’s attendance, emphasizing Canada’s support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Canada soon, following his last visit in December. Carney’s stance on Putin’s actions mirrors former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s firm message to Putin during the 2014 G20 summit.
Despite recent drone strikes in Kyiv by Russia, both sides have expressed optimism about peace prospects, with Putin mentioning potential support from various countries for a peace settlement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha highlighted a new phase of active diplomatic engagement to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Ultimately, the resolution of the conflict lies with the involved countries, and there is hope for progress through ongoing diplomatic efforts.