Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thrown open the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, raising fresh hopes—and questions—about whether stalled efforts to end the war could finally regain momentum.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW) released Saturday, September 12, Zelenskyy said he would attend the G20 summit and meet Putin if the Russian leader is also invited and attends the December gathering.
“Yes, of course. We have to come. We have to meet, to speak and make decisions,” Zelenskyy said, stressing that the objective would be tangible results rather than another exchange of political statements.
“Results matter,” he said.
The proposed encounter would be significant because Zelenskyy and Putin have not met face-to-face since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kremlin pushes back
The biggest obstacle, however, may be Moscow itself.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has not yet decided whether Putin will travel to the G20 summit in Miami, which is scheduled for December 14-15.
Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov likewise said the possibility of Putin attending the summit had not even been discussed in Moscow.
Peskov also repeated the Kremlin’s longstanding position that if Zelenskyy genuinely wants to meet Putin, the Ukrainian president should travel to Moscow instead.
That effectively puts the proposed Miami encounter in limbo before it has even been scheduled.
Why Miami matters
The United States is hosting this year’s G20 summit, and President Donald Trump has previously indicated that Russia would be welcome at the gathering.
U.S. officials said earlier this year that Russia, as a G20 member, would be invited to the summit and related meetings. Trump has also argued that speaking with all sides could help efforts to end the war.
Putin, however, has not personally attended a G20 leaders’ summit since 2019. Russia has remained part of the G20 despite international pressure following its invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine is not a G20 member but has participated in some G20-related events and has sought international support for its position in the war.
U.S. diplomacy is gaining momentum
Zelenskyy’s proposal comes as Washington attempts to restart negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently held talks in both Moscow and Kyiv, including discussions with Putin and Zelenskyy. Reuters reported that Kyiv is preparing for the possible resumption of trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States in October.
Zelenskyy has described some of the ideas presented by the U.S. envoys as promising, although no breakthrough agreement has been announced.
Among the issues being discussed are possible measures involving energy infrastructure, grain shipments and other areas where limited de-escalation could potentially create an opening for broader negotiations.
The battlefield tells a different story
The diplomatic opening is unfolding while fighting remains intense.
Russian strikes across Ukraine have continued to cause civilian casualties and damage infrastructure. Reuters reported that attacks on September 12 killed civilians and wounded dozens, while Ukrainian officials said hundreds of Russian drones had been launched in a major wave of attacks.
The Associated Press likewise reported continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, underscoring the gap between diplomatic efforts and the reality on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy has also warned that Ukraine needs additional air-defense capabilities ahead of winter, particularly as Russian attacks threaten energy and other critical infrastructure.
A meeting is possible—but far from certain
For now, there is no confirmed Zelenskyy-Putin meeting in Miami.
Three major questions remain unanswered: Will Putin attend the G20 summit? Will Moscow agree to meet Zelenskyy outside Russia? And can U.S.-led diplomatic efforts produce enough progress to make a leaders’ meeting meaningful?
Zelenskyy’s willingness to meet Putin represents a notable diplomatic signal, but the Kremlin’s response shows just how difficult the path to a face-to-face encounter remains.
With Washington pushing for renewed negotiations and Kyiv preparing for another difficult winter, the December G20 summit could become an important diplomatic stage.
But whether Putin actually steps onto that stage—and whether Zelenskyy will meet him there—remains the biggest question.
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