Poland: unthinkable that Navrocki would shake Putin's hand at G20 summit

The head of the International Policy Office of Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Marcin Przydacz, said he cannot picture any interaction between Nawrocki and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit.

This year's G20 summit will take place on December 14–15 in Miami, Florida, hosted by US President Donald Trump. Poland has received an invitation to attend as a guest, and the country will be represented by President Nawrocki.

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States had also invited Putin to the December summit. Przydacz acknowledged that Poland dislikes this but noted an invitation does not guarantee attendance — Putin has also been invited to UN summits in the past but has not shown up.

Risk factor

Asked whether a handshake between Nawrocki and Putin might occur, Przydacz said any contact with Putin carries risk, including physical risk, and that he cannot imagine such an interaction taking place. He stressed that the Presidential Palace will do everything possible to prevent a situation where Putin attempts to shake Nawrocki's hand.

Przydacz recalled that Nawrocki is on a list of people wanted by Putin, meaning any attempt at contact would be doomed to fail. He also emphasized that world leaders should not sit at the same table as the Russian president, whom he believes should be isolated at international forums.

The official added that the G20 format was established 30 years ago and that Russia has been part of it from the start.

Other reactions

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Putin's participation in the G20 meeting could mark the start of "serious negotiations" on ending Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Miami G20 summit could serve as a venue for a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia. US Secretary of State Rubio expressed hope that Putin would attend the summit.