UK’s Burnham won’t invite Putin to G20 summit next year; he skips them anyway

When asked whether Putin would be invited to the meeting, Burnham replied: "No" (Photo: AP). British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Thursday ruled out inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to next year's G20 summit in the United Kingdom’s Manchester.Asked by The Economist whether Putin would be invited to the meeting, Burnham replied: "No."The 2027 G20 summit is scheduled to take place in November in Manchester, a city in northwestern England where Burnham previously served as mayor.Burnham's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.The development comes amid controversy over US invitation to Putin for this year's G20 meeting in Miami in December. In September, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Washington had invited the Russian President, adding that the gathering would offer him an opportunity to engage with President Donald Trump and other world leaders, with possible discussions on Ukraine war peace plan.Moscow has said it “truly” appreciates the invitation but has not yet decided whether to accept it.Earlier, the US move drew criticism in Europe, where governments have been strengthening their militaries since Russia launched its f...