A bipartisan group of senators, including seven Republicans, sent an open letter to President Trump on Friday voicing “serious concern” and demanding an explanation for why he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami later this year, as Russia’s war with Ukraine continues.
“Given President Putin’s continued actions against the Ukrainian people and U.S. national security interests, we urge you to reconsider granting President Putin the stature and legitimacy to appear in the United States as a world leader at the G20 Leaders’ Summit,” the senators wrote.
Letters like this are routine from Democrats, who belong to the opposite party of the president. But the Republicans who signed on reached well beyond the usual Trump critics within the GOP. The GOP signers were Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Cornyn of Texas, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Curtis of Utah and Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma.
The letter urged Trump to rescind any invitation extended to Putin, as well as to any other sanctioned Russian officials. The Republican backing shows that Senate Republicans generally continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and that some have grown more willing to push back on Trump as his approval rating sits low.
The senators also pointed to the recently passed Russia-Iran sanctions bill, which is named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Graham was one of the Senate’s staunchest defenders of Ukraine before his death in July. The legislation ramped up sanctions on Russia in an effort to squeeze Moscow economically as its aggression in Ukraine drags on four years after the invasion.
Despite those measures, the senators said Russian officials have continued to appear at official meetings across the U.S. in recent months, including officials who are already under sanctions.
“It is troubling that, despite being sanctioned, these individuals have been given access to participate in G20 forums hosted in the United States,” the senators wrote. “The G20 is intended to foster international cooperation on critical issues including finance, trade and global economic stability. As Russia continues its war against Ukraine and refuses to agree to a just and lasting peace agreement, its government should not be afforded a business-as-usual treatment alongside other nations at G20 events.”
This is not the first time lawmakers have raised the alarm. In April, Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a similar letter to administration officials. That letter questioned why Russian delegates were taking part in meetings with members of Congress and executive branch officials.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit is an annual gathering of representatives from 19 sovereign nations around the world. Together, those countries account for 85 percent of the gross world product and more than half of the global population.
Trump is set to host this year’s summit in December at his resort in Miami.
