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The American president Donald Trump denied on Thursday that his government has sent a formal invitation to the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit that will be held in Miami in December, although he acknowledged that his presence "would be very useful," reported EFE.
The statement emerged from the Oval Office of the White House, in response to reports claiming that Washington had extended an official invitation to Moscow.
"No, it's not. But if (Putin) came, it would be very useful", Trump replied when directly asked about those reports.
Trump himself deemed it unlikely that the Russian leader would ultimately attend the meeting. "To be honest, I doubt he will come," he stated.
He also clarified his position on the invitation: "I know nothing about the invitation. But if I were invited... I believe that one should talk to everyone."
The G20 summit is scheduled for December 14 and 15 at Trump National Doral, the golf resort owned by Trump himself in Miami, marking the first time in nearly 20 years that the United States hosts the event.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has not attended any G20 summit in person, being represented in Bali, India, and Johannesburg by Chancellor Sergei Lavrov or other officials.
Additionally, since March 17, 2023, there is an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes related to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, according to El País, which complicates any international travels to countries that are members of the Rome Statute.
The spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the decision regarding Russia's participation format will be made closer to the date, while Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Pankin, indicated that Russia has received an invitation at the highest level, although its acceptance depends on future circumstances.
In the same event, Trump took the opportunity to criticize the expulsion of Russia from the G8 in 2014, following the annexation of Crimea, calling it a "very stupid" decision and blaming Obama and Trudeau.
"When I attend these G7 meetings, 90% of the time they are talking about Russia and I think, 'Why were they expelled?' In my opinion, it would have been better not to expel them," he stated, adding that Putin "felt very offended and has a right to feel that way."
Trump reiterated that Washington is still working to achieve a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev in a conflict that has already lasted over four years.
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