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Finland’s Stubb Floats G20 Johannesburg as Venue for Trump–Putin Talks Despite Likely No-Shows

He argues that Central Asian interlocutors offer a practical path for messages between Washington and Moscow.

Overview

  • President Alexander Stubb proposed using the Nov. 22–23 G20 summit in Johannesburg for renewed talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, with a possible Putin–Zelensky meeting.
  • The Kremlin has indicated Putin is not expected to attend the G20, and Trump says he will skip the gathering, with Vice President J.D. Vance leading the U.S. delegation.
  • Stubb said he spoke with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, who are due to meet Trump on Nov. 6 and then travel to Moscow, positioning them as potential messengers.
  • The push follows stalled diplomacy, including the cancellation of a planned Trump–Putin summit in Budapest after reports that Moscow would not compromise on maximalist demands.
  • Stubb warned of a new nuclear era and noted Trump-ordered U.S. nuclear tests after Russian and North Korean tests, while stressing Finland’s strengthened defense and continued support for Ukraine.