Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the G20 leaders’ summit that the United Kingdom will host in Manchester in November 2027. He made the remarks in an interview with The Economist published on 5 November 2026.
Asked directly whether the Russian leader would be invited, Burnham replied: “No.” He explained that Putin “will not be coming because of an outstanding sanction” against senior figures in the Russian administration. According to the prime minister, invitation lists are formally drawn up by the G20 itself, but British sanctions make a visit by the Russian president impossible.
Burnham’s statement comes against the backdrop of the decision by US President Donald Trump’s administration to invite Putin to the G20 summit taking place in Miami in December 2026. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed whether the Russian leader will attend the American event. Since 2022, the United Kingdom has maintained a policy of refusing direct bilateral contacts with Russian officials following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The G20 summit in Manchester will be held on 27–28 November 2027 at the Manchester Central Convention Centre. It will be the first meeting of G20 leaders on British soil since 2009. Russia remains a full member of the G20, but Putin has not attended any major international summit since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Burnham also noted that Britain’s G20 presidency would offer an opportunity to discuss artificial intelligence regulation and safety with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He stressed the need to reach global agreements in this area.
London’s position continues the line of previous British governments: the country remains one of Ukraine’s key allies and maintains sanctions pressure on Russia.
