We call on President Donald J. Trump and the United States Government to withdraw the invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit on December 14 and 15, 2026, in Miami, Florida, and to ban other sanctioned Russian officials from the remaining G20 meetings hosted by the United States this year.

Russian government delegations have already taken part in G20 meetings across the United States. A delegation led by sanctioned Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended the Finance Ministerial in Asheville, North Carolina. Russian delegations also attended the Commerce Department Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, Texas. An April 3 bipartisan Senate letter had already warned of the national security implications of allowing sanctioned members of the Russian Duma into the United States for official meetings.

President Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Letting him appear in the United States as a world leader at a G20 summit gives stature and legitimacy to a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilians, cities, and critical infrastructure every day. Public reports say Russia is helping Iran’s military target American service members in the Middle East. Russia has also increased hybrid warfare across Europe.

President Putin, Anton Siluanov, and others traveling with these delegations are sanctioned under Executive Order 14024 for conduct harmful to U.S. national security. The G20 exists for cooperation on finance, trade, and economic stability. A government that keeps waging war and refuses a just and lasting peace should not be treated as business as usual beside other nations.

The United States needs real economic and political pressure on President Putin if he is to come to serious peace talks. We recognize the signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Sanctions lose their force if the same government is welcomed onto the international stage. If Putin and his officials are not isolated, Russia has little reason to agree to a ceasefire.

The United States holds the G20 presidency for the rest of this year. We urge the President to reverse course: rescind Putin’s invitation, and keep other sanctioned Russian officials who bear responsibility for the war out of the Trade Ministerial, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the Leaders’ Summit, until Russia agrees to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.