Burnham Says Putin Won't Be Invited to 2027 G20 in Manchester

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be invited to the G20 summit that Britain hosts in Manchester in November 2027. The decision sets the UK apart from the United States, where President Donald Trump has invited Putin to this year's gathering in Miami in December, according to the BBC.

Asked by The Economist whether Putin would receive an invitation, Burnham answered "no." He said Putin "will not be coming because of an outstanding sanction" on senior Russian figures, the BBC reported.

Two hosts, two approaches to Putin

The BBC noted that the UK has had a longstanding policy against direct, bilateral engagement with Russian ministers since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Burnham's answer is consistent with that stance.

The Independent described the decision as a break with Trump. It said Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in September that Washington had invited Putin to the Miami meeting. The BBC reported that the Kremlin has not yet said whether Putin will attend. It added that Putin has not attended any major global summit since he launched the war in Ukraine.

Russia's place in the G20

Russia is a member of the G20, which the BBC describes as 19 nations plus the European Union and the African Union. Ukraine is not a member. The war has loomed large over recent summits, the BBC said.

Tensions were visible at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in October, according to the BBC. European diplomats refused to pose for the traditional "family photo" with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the photo was canceled. The U.S. decision to invite Lavrov drew criticism, the BBC said, as did a series of public disputes between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that preceded it.

At that meeting, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Lavrov directly that everyone knows who the aggressor in the war is, the BBC reported.

What the UK wants from the summit

Burnham said the Manchester meeting would offer "a real opportunity" to work with Chinese President Xi Jinping on safety rules for artificial intelligence. Pressed on whether Britain could bring the U.S. and China together to agree on global AI oversight, he said that looks challenging today. He argued that leaders must still aim for global agreements, because without them the risks of recent times would intensify.

The UK government has said it will use its 2027 G20 presidency to reinforce global economic stability and benefit people in every part of the country, according to the BBC.

Why it matters for the summit and its guests

The decision shapes who will sit at the table when Britain hosts the world's major economies. The two-day event will be held at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in the city center. It is expected to bring thousands of diplomats and delegates, along with world leaders, the BBC said. The UK last hosted a G20 summit in 2009.

Burnham's stated reason is the sanctions on senior Russian figures, which he says rule out Putin's attendance. Russia keeps its membership in the group. The sources do not say who would represent Moscow in Manchester.

The agenda Burnham described, global economic stability and AI safety, depends on getting the U.S. and China into agreement. He acknowledged that goal is difficult at present.

What happens next

The Miami summit comes first, in December. Whether Putin attends depends on a Kremlin decision that has not been announced. The Manchester summit follows in November 2027.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by BBC News, The Daily Beast, The Independent