If Putin attends the G20 summit, Zelensky expresses willingness to have face-to-face talks

In an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Ukrainian President Zelensky said that if Russian President Putin attends the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Miami, the United States, in December, he is willing to go to face-to-face talks with Putin, stressing that it is not important what the other party has to say, but the final result is important.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelensky and Putin have never met face-to-face. The last time the two met was at the "Normandy Format" summit held in Paris in 2019. If the G20 summit in December leads to another meeting between the two, it will be the first time since the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine.

Agence France-Presse reported on the 12th that when asked whether he would be willing to meet Putin if both leaders were invited to attend the G20 summit hosted by the United States at the end of the year, Zelensky responded: "Of course, we have to go, we have to meet, talk and make decisions." He then said that it does not matter what each other has to say, "What matters is the result, and only the result is important."

Zelensky's remarks come as Washington has recently renewed its push for diplomatic contacts between Russia and Ukraine. U.S. President Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner went to Moscow and Kiev respectively in early September to hold talks with Putin and Zelensky respectively. Russia also stated on September 7 that it would not rule out the resumption of trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine, but it still stated at that time that it was too early to discuss the specific location and date.

In an exclusive interview, Zelensky said that the simultaneous visits of US special envoys to Moscow and Kiev was a "positive signal" and affirmed the two visits to Kiev, believing that this represents respect for the Ukrainian people. As for whether he and Putin can meet in Miami, it still depends on whether Putin will attend the G20 summit.

Russia has not had Putin personally attend the G20 leaders' summit since 2019. Russia has recently re-participated in some G20-related meetings. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended the G20 Finance Ministers' Meeting in North Carolina, USA, in early September. Russian officials are also expected to participate in the G20 Energy Meeting in Houston next week.