14 US senators urge Trump to rescind Putin's G20 invitation

September 26, 2026 at 01:51 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Fourteen US senators from both parties urged President Donald Trump to withdraw Vladimir Putin's invitation to the December G20 summit in Miami. In a letter obtained by The Washington Post, they argued Putin's presence would legitimize Russia's war on Ukraine. The appeal comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation on September 23.

Key Facts

The letter was initiated by Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
Putin, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and other Russian delegation members are under US sanctions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Putin's invitation on September 23.
The G20 summit is scheduled for December in Miami.

Senators' Letter

The letter holds Putin solely responsible for starting Russia's war against Ukraine. It argues that Putin's presence at the US-hosted summit could contribute to recognition and normalization of Russian authorities. The senators noted that Putin, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and other Russian delegation members are under US sanctions imposed for actions Washington views as threats to national security. They believe the absence of international isolation could reduce Putin's interest in ending the war.

Signatories and Leadership

The letter was initiated by Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Wicker chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, while Shaheen holds a senior Democratic position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Six additional Democrats and six additional Republicans signed the document.

Siluanov Controversy

The Washington Post recalled that Siluanov's presence at the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, in August drew objections from some states. European Union representatives opposed including the Russian minister in the group photo of participants. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Putin's invitation on September 23, saying the meeting should give the Russian president an opportunity to engage with other world leaders.