Bipartisan senators urge Trump to rescind Putin's G20 invitation

A bipartisan group of 14 US senators urged President Donald Trump to rescind his invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the G20 summit in Miami this December, according to The Washington Post. The senators argue that allowing Putin to attend would legitimize a government responsible for daily strikes on Ukrainian civilians. The senators noted that Putin, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and other Russian delegation members are under US sanctions. They contend Putin may have little incentive to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine if he is not isolated from the international community. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation Wednesday, calling it an opportunity for dialogue. Senators Roger Wicker and Jeanne Shaheen led the letter, signed by six Democrats and six Republicans. Siluanov's attendance at last month's G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville surprised participants and angered EU members who demanded he be excluded from the group photo. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness to meet Putin at the summit.