Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be invited to the G20 leaders’ summit due to be hosted in Manchester in November 2027.
The UK prime minister has also said that international sanctions on Russia mean Mr Putin would be unable to attend the gathering in person. Officials have cited travel and financial restrictions imposed on senior Russian figures since 2022 as a key obstacle to any visit.
Russia is a member of the Group of Twenty, a forum that brings together major advanced and emerging economies to discuss global economic and political issues. The decision not to invite Mr Putin, and the UK government’s position that sanctions would bar his entry, highlights continuing tensions between Western states and Moscow stemming from its actions in Ukraine.
Organisers of the Manchester summit are continuing logistical planning for the event, which will bring heads of state and government to the city in November 2027. The absence of a sitting Russian president would present diplomatic and procedural questions for hosts and other attendees about engagement with Moscow during the summit.
Opposition parties and some international partners are likely to scrutinise the decision and its implications for G20 cooperation, while Russia’s response has yet to be formally disclosed. UK officials said preparations would continue with a focus on security and the wider agenda for the summit.