'Nothing happens': Marco Rubio reveals why Trump wants Putin at G20 in Miami

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami to engage directly with leaders he disagrees with.

The invitation comes as Russia continues its war against Ukraine, with Russian forces striking Kyiv on Wednesday and killing at least two people.

Rubio made the remarks after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday, September 23, saying direct engagement can help address disagreements.

Marco Rubio says disagreement requires direct engagement

Rubio said Trump’s invitation was intended to put Putin in a room with other world leaders, even as major disagreements remain over the war in Ukraine.

“We think it’s an opportunity for him to engage not just with the president, but with other world leaders,” Rubio told reporters. 

“We hope that’s an invitation he’ll accept,” he added.

Rubio also explained the administration’s reasoning for engaging leaders with whom the United States disagrees.

“If you only meet with people that you agree with, then these are very nice meetings but nothing happens,” Rubio said. 

“In order to solve problems, you have to meet with people that you disagree with or the people that you might have some issues with,” he stated.

If Putin attends, it could be his first in-person G20 visit since 2019 and his second trip to the United States since Trump returned to office last year. 

Vladimir Putin's invitation comes as Ukraine war continues

The invitation comes while Russia’s war against Ukraine remains unresolved. Russian forces hammered Kyiv with drones Wednesday, killing at least two people and damaging major infrastructure sites, Politico reported.

Trump has also pushed Ukraine to refrain from attacking Russian oil refineries, strikes he has blamed for a spike in global gas prices.

Earlier in the month, Trump announced that Moscow and Kyiv had reached an energy ceasefire. 

The two sides have continued striking each other’s energy targets in the weeks since.

The latest invitation therefore puts Rubio’s stated emphasis on direct engagement alongside an unresolved conflict that has continued despite US efforts to broker an end to the war.

Trump and Putin have continued diplomatic contact

Trump and Putin have maintained direct contact as the administration seeks progress toward ending the war.

Putin told Trump during a September 8 phone call that Russia did not have “aggressive plans” against Europe and praised US efforts to end the conflict, according to the Kremlin.

The Kremlin said the leaders discussed US efforts to end the war, including a recent trip to Moscow and Kyiv by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Putin also gave Trump what the Kremlin described as an “objective and comprehensive analysis” of the battlefield and “outlined what the Americans could really do for an immediate ceasefire,” according to Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

Trump told Putin he wanted the war to end as soon as possible and hoped for a “breakthrough” during his presidential term, Ushakov said. 

The leaders agreed to remain in contact and speak again when needed, as per the Financial Times.