Rubio defends decision to invite Russia to G20 meetings

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to defend Washington's invitation for Russia to participate in G20 meetings, emphasising the need to continue interaction with the Russian side.

Source: Rubio at a press conference in Atlanta following the G20 ministerial meeting, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Journalists asked Rubio to comment on criticism from his European counterparts regarding Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's participation in this week's G20 ministerial meeting and the invitation of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the summit in Miami.

Rubio responded that he considers Russia's participation in G20 discussions important, particularly due to US diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Quote: "In order to end the war in Ukraine peacefully, you're going to have to have a negotiated settlement... How can you have a negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine if you don't have the ability to talk to both Russia and Ukraine? How can you talk to both Russia and Ukraine unless you interact with them?"

Details: Rubio said Lavrov's participation in the G20 ministerial meeting is another "opportunity to continue to interact with the Russian system".

Quote: "As I've said to you earlier in my conversations, the president does not view meeting with someone or talking to someone as legitimising everything they do or everything they stand for."

Details: According to Rubio, everyone wants to see a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but it is impossible to make one without dialogue with Moscow.

Quote: "If we can play a role in mediating an end to that conflict, the United States is prepared to play that role. And to play that role, we have to have the ability to communicate with both sides. We talk to the Ukrainians plenty. We talk to them as much, if not more, than we talk to the Russian side."

Details: Rubio specifically stressed that Russia, like the US, is a nuclear power, and therefore Washington and Moscow must maintain dialogue to avoid dangerous escalation.

Background:

• The US has invited Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, where he may hold a meeting with Trump.
• On 30 October, Lavrov arrived in the US to participate in the G20 ministerial meeting.
• Commenting on the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in the US, EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said that Lavrov's stance gave no indication that Russia is willing to engage in peace talks.
• UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband rebuked Lavrov during the G20 meeting in the US.

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