Putin–Zelensky Meeting at G20 Summit in Miami Impossible, Kremlin Says

Dragon Media News Desk

A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Miami this December is impossible, according to the Kremlin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that such a meeting could not take place in Miami and reiterated Moscow’s position that any direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky could be held only in Moscow.

Zelensky had earlier indicated that he would be prepared to travel to Miami for direct talks if Putin attended the G20 Summit. The Ukrainian president has argued that a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders could be necessary to advance efforts toward ending the war.

The Kremlin, however, has maintained that Moscow would be the appropriate venue for any such talks. Russian officials have repeatedly stated that Zelensky could come to Moscow if he seeks a direct meeting with Putin.

At the same time, it remains unclear whether Putin himself will attend the G20 Summit in Miami. The Kremlin has not yet announced a final decision on the Russian president’s participation.

The question of a possible Putin–Zelensky meeting has again highlighted one of the central diplomatic obstacles surrounding efforts to revive high-level negotiations. While both sides have at times spoken of the need for dialogue, they remain divided over the conditions, venue and political framework for direct talks.

The disagreement over where such a meeting could take place therefore remains more than a matter of protocol. It reflects the continuing lack of trust between Moscow and Kyiv and the broader difficulty of creating an acceptable format for renewed negotiations at the highest political level.