Burnham: Putin Will Not Be Invited to G20 Summit in Manchester

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in an interview published by The Economist on 5 November that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not be invited to the G20 leaders' summit planned for Manchester in 2027. The G20 is a group of the world's largest economies. Politico reported the remarks. The position matters because London is clearly distancing itself from US President Donald Trump's approach to inviting Russian representatives.

Sanctions as the reason

Asked whether Putin would receive an invitation, Burnham said plainly that it would not happen. He explained that the guest list is drawn up by the G20 itself, but stressed that Russia will not come to the UK because serious sanctions are in force against it.

Background: dispute with the US

Burnham's statement follows a diplomatic row. It was sparked by Trump's announcement that he had decided to invite Putin to the G20 leaders' meeting in Miami this December. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband previously told Politico that the UK would not give up its ban on dealing directly with Russia, but that US decisions are a matter for US officials.

Last week, a group photo during a video call of G20 foreign ministers was cancelled. Several politicians, including Miliband, refused to be photographed alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

British policy on Ukraine

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK has been one of Kyiv's firmest supporters. All five British prime ministers in office during that period have followed this policy.

China

In the interview, Burnham also said he looks forward to hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping on a visit. He added that there is a real opportunity to develop economic cooperation between the UK and China.