UK Faces Backlash Over Putin's Potential G20 Attendance

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing significant criticism for plans to invite Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Manchester next year, according to government sources.

Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, the decision to invite a Russian delegation was confirmed on Friday. An insider described the move as "deeply regrettable" but stated that the government felt it had no alternative due to a lack of consensus within the G20 on expelling Russia from the group.

Ministers reportedly do not anticipate Putin attending in person, fearing that British courts would uphold an International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest. Putin is accused of war crimes in Ukraine and is also linked to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning incident that resulted in the death of Dawn Sturgess.

Critics argue that the presence of a high-level Russian delegation would signal a normalization of relations with Moscow, providing a propaganda victory for the Kremlin. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the idea "unthinkable," stating that any invitation should come with a clear warning that "war criminals, including Putin, will be arrested if they come here."

Tory national security spokesperson Alicia Kearns echoed these sentiments, calling the potential invitation "an insult to all those who have fought and died in Ukraine" and stating that "Moscow is not welcome until they end their barbaric and illegal invasion."

Disquiet within the government is also noted, with sources indicating that the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence oppose the invitation. The decision is said to have been championed by Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, which is overseeing preparations for the G20 summit.

One security source described Russia as an "enemy... of the West as a whole," engaged in daily hostile activity. The source warned that Russia would exploit its presence at a UK-hosted summit as a "propaganda coup" to gain legitimacy.

A government spokesperson acknowledged that "Russian participation in G20 meetings is regrettable" but emphasized that "The G20 is a consensus-based multilateral grouping, all countries are invited and it’s a matter for member states who represents them at summits."

Downing Street reiterated on Friday evening that Mr. Burnham remains "steadfast" in his support for Ukraine.