Five Days After Trump Signs the Russia Sanctions Bill, Rubio Announces That Putin Is Invited to the G20 at Trump's Doral Resort — "We Hope That's an Invitation He'll Accept" — and Republican Senators Answer That Putin Is "a Pariah" Who Should Be Treated "Like the Dictator He Is"
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the U.N. General Assembly and after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Group of 20 summit it is hosting December 14-15 at Trump National Doral Miami, President Trump's golf resort. Rubio said engaging adversaries is how "to solve problems." He also said Russia and Ukraine had both shown interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy. If Putin attends, it would be his first in-person G20 since before Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court has an outstanding arrest warrant for him, but the United States is not a party to the court. On September 24 the Kremlin said no decision had been made on whether he would go. The invitation came five days after Trump signed the Graham Russia and Iran sanctions bill. Several Republican senators criticized it. Mike Rounds of South Dakota called it "a mistake" and called Putin "a pariah." Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said Putin "should not be invited," and Todd Young of Indiana said "elevating Vladimir Putin is not where we should be focused right now." Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Rubio had made clear the administration "has no intention of isolating Russia," and Richard Blumenthal called the invitation "absolutely disgraceful, despicable."
“[Bipartisan letter to President Trump from 14 senators, led by Jeanne Shaheen and Roger Wicker:] President Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Allowing him to participate in a G20 Summit in the United States raises serious concerns about legitimizing and normalizing a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilian targets every day. … As Russia continues its war against Ukraine and refuses to agree to a just and lasting peace agreement, its government should not be afforded a business-as-usual treatment alongside other nations at G20 events. … We urge you to reverse course and rescind the invitation to President Putin.”