SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Britain appears to be taking a different diplomatic position from the United States over Russia, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham ruling out an invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 2027 G20 summit scheduled to take place in Manchester.
In an interview with The Economist, Burnham was asked whether Putin would be welcome at the gathering. His response was a firm “No,” adding that the Russian leader would not be attending because of an outstanding sanction.
The position puts Britain at odds with US President Donald Trump, who has invited Putin to this year’s G20 summit in Miami in December. Although the Kremlin has yet to confirm whether the Russian president will attend, the contrasting decisions highlight growing differences between Washington and London over how to engage with Moscow.
Britain has maintained a tough stance against Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, refusing direct bilateral engagement with Russian ministers. The government has also continued to support Ukraine politically and diplomatically.
The diplomatic disagreement was already evident during the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in October, when a planned group photograph was cancelled after several European representatives, including British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, refused to stand alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
During the meeting, Miliband openly challenged Russia’s role in the conflict, telling Lavrov that the world knew who the aggressor in the war was.
Despite the tensions, Russia remains a member of the G20, alongside 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union. Ukraine, however, is not a member of the group.
Beyond the disagreement over Russia, Burnham is also looking to use Britain’s 2027 G20 presidency to strengthen relationships with other major global powers, particularly China.
The prime minister said he hoped to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Manchester, describing the summit as an opportunity to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries. He also identified artificial intelligence safety as an important area where Britain and China could work together.
Burnham acknowledged that bringing the United States and China together to establish global rules for artificial intelligence would be difficult but insisted that international cooperation was necessary to prevent emerging risks from becoming more serious.
The two-day summit will be held at Manchester Central Convention Centre, marking Britain’s first time hosting the G20 since 2009. Thousands of diplomats, delegates, and world leaders are expected to attend.
Britain’s decision to shut the door on Putin while seeking closer cooperation with China reflects the delicate balancing act facing Western governments: maintaining pressure on Russia over Ukraine while keeping diplomatic and economic channels open with other major powers.
Ultimately, the 2027 summit could become more than an economic gathering. It may also serve as a major test of Britain’s ability to influence global diplomacy at a time when relations between the world’s leading powers remain increasingly complicated.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
