Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Zelensky-Putin Miami G20 talks ruled out by Kremlin
The Kremlin ruled out a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Miami, after Zelensky said he would be willing to attend talks there on ending the war.
“It is impossible,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told AFP in New Delhi on Saturday, repeating Moscow's demand that any meeting can take place only in the Russian capital. Asked whether the Kremlin was considering an alternative location, Peskov said: “There is a readiness to meet him in Moscow.”
The G20 gathering is scheduled for December 14-15. There has been no confirmation of whether Putin will attend.
Asked in a Deutsche Welle interview released Saturday whether he would meet Putin at the summit if both leaders were invited, Zelensky said: “Yes, of course.” He said the sides had to meet, speak and make decisions, adding that results mattered more than words.
Putin has repeatedly rejected offers for a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky aimed at ending more than four years of war. Washington is trying to restart stalled negotiations, with US negotiators visiting Kyiv and Moscow and President Donald Trump and Putin speaking by phone this week.
Trump's special envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner told a security forum in Kyiv by videolink Friday that he hoped to announce the “next steps” of talks to end the war within “a couple of weeks”. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv last weekend, and Zelensky said their trips to both capitals were a “good signal”.
Zelensky said Ukraine was in a stronger battlefield position than last year before possible negotiations. Kyiv has said talks could happen as early as this month, while the Kremlin said Monday it was too early to discuss a venue or dates. Zelensky also said he planned to meet Trump in late September.
Ukrainian officials said Saturday that intensified strikes on key sectors, including energy, could cut Ukrainian GDP by 1.5 points this year and make the coming winter “very difficult”.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have escalated long-range strikes in recent months. Local authorities and steelmaker ArcelorMittal said overnight Russian strikes killed four people in Ukraine, including two in Zaporizhzhia and two at an ArcelorMittal plant in Kryvyi Rih.
Zelensky repeated his call for more missiles for Ukraine's air defences, including Patriot interceptor missiles. He said US supplies had been reduced after Washington used large numbers during its war with Iran and urged European allies to provide more support.
Update
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told AFP that a Zelensky-Putin meeting at the Miami G20 was impossible.
Peskov said Moscow was ready to meet Zelensky in Moscow when asked about an alternative location.
Ukrainian officials said intensified strikes on key sectors, including energy, could reduce Ukrainian GDP by 1.5 points this year and make winter very difficult.
Jared Kushner said he hoped to announce next steps in talks to end the war within a couple of weeks.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 18:00:28 UTC.
Update
Zelensky said US supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles had been reduced after Washington used large numbers during its war with Iran.
Zelensky urged European allies to provide more of what Ukraine needs for air defence.
The item adds reported overnight Russian strikes that killed four people in Ukraine, according to local authorities and ArcelorMittal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 13:50:06 UTC.
Update
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Putin's demand that Zelensky come to Moscow for any talks.
Zelensky said visits by US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to both Kyiv and Moscow were a good signal.
Zelensky said Ukraine was in a stronger battlefield position than last year ahead of possible negotiations.
Zelensky said he planned to meet US President Donald Trump in late September.
Zelensky repeated calls for more air-defence missiles, including Patriot interceptor missiles.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 12:55:48 UTC.
Update
The Kremlin said it had not decided whether Vladimir Putin would attend the G20 summit in Miami.
Dmitry Peskov was cited by TASS as saying Russia did not yet know whether it would go to Miami.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 12:10:11 UTC.
Update
Zelensky said the Deutsche Welle interview took place Friday in Canada.
Zelensky has announced plans to meet US President Donald Trump in late September.
Kyiv has said direct talks could happen as early as this month, while the Kremlin said Monday it was too early to discuss a venue or dates.
Zelensky said Ukraine is in a stronger battlefield position than last year and that Russia is paying a big price for slow advances.
Zelensky repeated a request for more interceptor missiles and said Russia produces 140 ballistic missiles a month.
The item says Moscow and Kyiv have escalated long-range strikes in recent months, leading to the highest civilian death toll since the early days of the war.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 09:25:13 UTC.
Update
Zelensky said the recent visit by US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to both Moscow and Kyiv was a “good signal”.
Zelensky said it was important the US negotiators had also visited Kyiv, calling it respect for Ukrainians.
Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed the war last week in an hour-long call that the Kremlin described as “extremely frank” and constructive.
The United States holds this year’s G20 presidency.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended a G20 meeting in North Carolina in early September, and a Russian diplomat said Moscow would send officials to a G20 energy meeting in Houston next week.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 08:47:24 UTC.
Update
Zelensky was asked by Deutsche Welle whether he would meet Putin at the December G20 in Miami if both leaders were invited.
Zelensky answered: “Yes, of course. We have to come. We have to meet, to speak, and make decisions.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 September 2026 at 08:22:19 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It has not been confirmed whether Putin will attend the Miami G20 summit.
No venue or date for any Zelensky-Putin meeting has been agreed.
It is unclear whether Washington will provide enough Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine.
Source
AFP news report published on .