Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be invited to the 2027 G20 summit in Manchester, citing sanctions against senior Russian figures.
Burnham told The Economist that Putin would not be coming because of an outstanding sanction. The decision contrasts with that of US President Donald Trump, who has invited Putin to this year's G20 summit in Miami in December. Putin has not attended any major global summit since launching the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The UK last hosted the G20 in 2009. Next year's two-day summit will take place at Manchester Central Convention Centre, hosting thousands of diplomats and delegates.
The US decision to invite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to last month's G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting attracted criticism, with European diplomats refusing to stand for an official photo, which was cancelled. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Lavrov at that meeting: "Let me say this directly to the Russian foreign minister: We all know who the aggressor in this war is."
Burnham said the Manchester summit would provide a real opportunity to work with Chinese President Xi Jinping on safety regulations for artificial intelligence. He stressed the need to find global agreements on AI, adding: "If we don't, the risks of recent times will magnify, they will significantly intensify."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The UK's refusal to invite Putin signals continued diplomatic isolation of Russia over the Ukraine war, reinforcing Western sanctions policy.
- The G20 summit is a platform for global economic and security coordination; the exclusion of a major nuclear power affects its legitimacy.
- Burnham's aim to negotiate AI safety rules with China and the US highlights the growing importance of tech governance at diplomatic forums.
Background
The G20 is a grouping of 19 nations, the European Union and the African Union. Its summits have been overshadowed by the Ukraine war since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Putin has skipped previous G20 gatherings, with Russia represented by lower-level officials. The UK will hold the presidency in 2027, hosting the summit in Manchester.
Key Perspectives
Andy Burnham: Putin will not be invited due to sanctions; the summit is an opportunity to work with China on AI safety, and global agreements on AI are needed to avoid magnified risks.
Donald Trump: The US president invited Putin to this year's Miami summit, drawing European criticism when Lavrov attended the foreign ministers' meeting.
European diplomats: They refused to stand for an official photo with Lavrov, leading to the cancellation of the traditional G20 "family photo."
What to Watch
- Whether Putin attends Trump's G20 summit in Miami this December.
- Whether the UK can bring the US and China together on AI regulation in Manchester.
- The reaction from other G20 members to the UK's exclusion of Russia.