Lavrov on G20 invitations Equal members, host limits

Sep 26

Lavrov answers a question about a reported invitation for Putin to attend the Miami G20 summit and whether it signals warmer U.S.–Russian relations. He says G20 membership is equal and an invitation is a normal host notification rather than a special concession. He criticizes U.S. efforts to exclude South Africa and invite Poland, arguing that a rotating chair cannot decide membership or comparable arrangements without the group's agreement. He does not confirm Putin's attendance and says the presidential administration will announce travel decisions. The full exchange records his interpretation of an existing invitation and his objections to the chair's authority; it does not report a newly issued invitation, accepted attendance or a completed change in G20 membership.

At his September 26 press conference during UN high-level week, Sergei Lavrov responds to questions about the invitation for Vladimir Putin to attend the December G20. He says all twenty countries are equal members and that the host’s invitation communicates the chosen summit date rather than offering membership or a special admission to talks. Vremya’s September 27 weekly review airs his explanation after recalling Moscow’s earlier thanks and intention to work through the invitation diplomatically. Lavrov announces no attendance decision, scheduled Putin–Trump meeting or trilateral agreement. This is his later public explanation, separate from Rubio’s September23 invitation and the Kremlin’s September24 response. The full primary exchange additionally records Lavrov objecting to exclusion of South Africa and an invitation for Poland, arguing that the chair cannot decide membership without consensus. He says the presidential administration will announce Putin's travel decisions. These are his objections and qualifications, not confirmed membership changes or attendance.