US invites Putin to G20 summit in Miami for first time since Russia-Ukraine war began

# Analysis This invitation represents a fundamental recalibration of American diplomatic strategy that could reshape international responses to the Ukraine conflict. By extending a formal invitation despite Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine, the Trump administration is signaling willingness to normalize engagement with Moscow—a sharp departure from the Biden approach of isolation and sanctions escalation. The practical consequence is immediate: a Putin appearance in Miami would legitimize Russia's seat at the global economic table while potentially fracturing the Western consensus that has sustained Ukraine's international support, particularly among G20 members like India and Indonesia who have resisted strong anti-Russia positioning. More broadly, this move telegraphs to other U.S. adversaries and allies alike that diplomatic leverage with Washington now depends less on alignment with previous commitments and more on direct negotiating power, which could accelerate shifts in global alignments well beyond the Ukraine question.