US President Donald Trump said on Saturday, November 1 reporting shows, that he would invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the G20 leaders' summit in Florida in December, IANS reported. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump was asked whether he would extend an invitation to Zelensky. “I would. I would. No problem,” he replied, according to EuropeSays' report of the exchange.
Source: IANS
Trump's statement came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio left the possibility open at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta. “That would be up to the President to decide. I wouldn't rule it out,” Rubio said of a possible invitation, adding: “But I don't have an announcement on that today.” IANS reported that Rubio suggested Ukrainian participation could be considered if it offered a prospect of progress.
Source: Nation Press
No formal invitation yet
No formal invitation to Zelensky has yet been announced, EuropeSays reported, and IANS noted that the arrangements and purpose of any Ukrainian participation remained unspecified. The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14-15 at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami, Florida, under the US presidency. Washington has already invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the summit, EuropeSays reported, citing Rubio's September confirmation.
Source: EuropeSays
Atlanta talks focused on a negotiated end to the war
At the Atlanta press conference, Rubio described Washington's foremost objective as achieving a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war, Nation Press reported. He pointed to attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and civilian casualties, and said the US presidency had focused the ministerial agenda on energy, supply chains, critical minerals and freedom of navigation. The Atlanta foreign ministers' meeting was part of the formal preparations for the December leaders' summit.
Source: Nation Press
What is solid
- Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday that he would invite Zelensky to the December G20 summit in Florida — “I would. I would. No problem” (EuropeSays; IANS).
- Rubio said in Atlanta on Saturday that the decision rested with Trump and he would not rule out an invitation, but made no announcement (IANS; Nation Press).
- The G20 leaders' summit is scheduled for December 14-15 in Doral, Florida (EuropeSays).
What is only claimed
- No formal invitation to Zelensky has yet been announced, and whether he will attend — and in what capacity — remains unconfirmed (EuropeSays).
- Putin's attendance at the Florida summit also remains unconfirmed in the reports read.