Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to keep his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin brief if they meet at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. The summit, hosted by the U.S., is expected to include Putin, as indicated by the Kremlin earlier this year.
During an unrelated press briefing, Carney mentioned that his message to Putin would be direct and concise: urging him to withdraw from Ukraine, return control of the country to its rightful authorities, and put an end to the ongoing conflict that has claimed the lives of thousands of people each month.
When asked about the possibility of the Trump administration retracting Putin’s invitation, Carney acknowledged that there are valid concerns but emphasized that the host country has the prerogative to extend invitations.
Putin has not attended a G20 summit since the Ukrainian invasion in 2022, which led to an active arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him. Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Asheville, N.C., with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov also in attendance.
The presence of Siluanov at the meeting stirred unease, with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressing discomfort and reaffirming Canada’s support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Canada soon, following his last visit in December for discussions with Carney and Trump regarding the conflict resolution.
Carney’s stance reflects the firm position taken by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his encounter with Putin at the 2014 G20 summit, where he similarly demanded Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine.
Despite recent drone strikes in Kyiv by Russia, both sides have expressed optimism about potential peace talks, with Putin mentioning support from various countries including the U.S. and China for a peaceful resolution.
As the diplomatic efforts intensify, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed hope for progress in peace negotiations, indicating an active engagement from multiple global capitals in finding a resolution to the conflict.