US invitation to Putin sparks outrage over Ukraine war crimes

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the G20 summit in Miami in mid-December has sparked international outrage, with critics accusing the US of whitewashing alleged war crimes and potentially encouraging further Russian aggression in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the invitation could incentivize Russia to continue its aggressive policies, while US Republican congressman Don Bacon called Putin a "dictator tyrant" and "war criminal." European Parliament member Pekka Toveri criticized the Trump administration's decision, and Russian opposition activist Garry Kasparov urged world leaders to boycott the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky viewed the invitation more positively, seeing it as a potential opportunity for a trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump. Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted the US can invite whomever it chooses, while the Kremlin thanked the US for the invitation but has not confirmed Putin's attendance.