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 summit is set to be hosted in Miami by the United States, with President Donald Trump expressing a desire for Putin to participate. Carney’s primary message to Putin, should they meet, is to “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.”
When questioned during an unrelated press conference, Carney mentioned that there are “valid reasons” to prevent Putin’s attendance, but ultimately, it is up to the host to extend invitations. Putin has not attended a G20 summit since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and an active arrest warrant is in place against him by the International Criminal Court.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed discomfort over the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at a recent G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Asheville, N.C., emphasizing Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Canada soon, following his last visit in December, where discussions were held with Carney and Trump to seek an end to the conflict.
Carney’s stance mirrors that of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s meeting with Putin at the 2014 G20 summit, where Harper urged Putin to “get out of Ukraine” following the annexation of Crimea. Despite recent drone strikes in Kyiv by Russia, both sides have expressed optimism about peace prospects, with Putin highlighting support from various countries for a potential resolution.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has indicated a renewed push for diplomatic engagement to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, expressing hope for progress in the peace efforts. Sybiha emphasized the need for active involvement from global capitals to facilitate a resolution.