Andrea Innocenti The international scene is buzzing with excitement over a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. The opportunity would be the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, scheduled for December 14 and 15. But while Zelensky seems ready to seize the opportunity, the Kremlin has already made it clear that such a meeting is impossible.
BRICS leaders offer mediation
During the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Indian leaders Narendra Modi and Chinese Xi Jinping offered to mediate to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine . Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin welcomed their willingness to cooperate.
Zelensky's proposal and the Kremlin's response
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Zelensky expressed his willingness to meet Putin in Miami, stressing the importance of making concrete decisions rather than just talking. However, the Kremlin spokesman curtly responded that such a meeting in Miami was impossible, reiterating his invitation to Zelensky to travel to Moscow.
Diplomatic strategies at play
While spokesman Peskov addressed Kiev directly, Putin's diplomatic advisor, Yuri Ushakov, adopted a more nuanced tone, declaring that Putin's participation in the G20 had not yet been discussed. This dual tone reflects the different diplomatic strategies in place, with the Kremlin seeking to maintain control of the narrative.
The role of the United States and recent diplomatic moves
The Trump administration is pushing for Putin to attend the G20, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping. This would be part of an unprecedented trilateral discussion scheduled to begin on November 18 and 19 in Shenzhen, China, during the APEC summit. Zelensky is seeking to insert himself into this broader geopolitical dynamic, with the support of some European countries.
In recent months, there have been several diplomatic contacts between Moscow and Washington. CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow on August 25 , followed by advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on September 5 and 6. Trump and Putin have also spoken directly by telephone, but so far there have been no concrete results.
The next diplomatic steps
Despite the tensions, there are still opportunities for dialogue. From September 14-16, a Russian delegation will attend the G20 energy summit in Houston. Subsequently, the UN General Assembly will be held in New York from September 18-28 . These events could offer further opportunities to rekindle negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, European countries continue to monitor developments. The security advisers of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy met in Kiev for the Yes Conference, pushing for a role in any potential negotiations. The road to a solution is still long and uncertain, but every diplomatic step counts.