Russia welcomes U.S. G20 invite for Putin, attendance undecided

Russia welcomed the U.S. invitation for President Vladimir Putin to attend a G20 summit in Florida, expressing appreciation but stopping short of confirming attendance. The offer drew sharp criticism from European leaders. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the invite could encourage Russian aggression, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a "wrong path" that normalizes war-starting leaders. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the White House hopes Putin will accept the opportunity to engage with world leaders. The invitation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine have stalled, with Kyiv warning of a painful winter for Russia without a truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the UN General Assembly, called Putin "patient zero" of spreading war.