WSJ Editorial Board Rebukes Trump For Planning Putin’s G-20 Return
The Wall Street Journal editorial board criticized Trump for inviting Putin to a G-20 summit he is hosting at his Doral club in December. The board said the invitation gives Putin a global rehabilitation moment while Western intelligence warns Russia is escalating hybrid warfare against NATO. It also argued Putin has shown no intention of ending the Ukraine war.
The Journal's editorial board objected to President Trump's plan to welcome Vladimir Putin to a December G-20 gathering at Trump National Doral. It noted that Putin has been shunned internationally since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and that Western intelligence agencies say Moscow is intensifying hybrid attacks on NATO states.
The board also said the invitation would hand Putin a worldwide image boost, especially as Russian citizens show war fatigue. It rejected the idea that re-engaging him would push him to stop the conflict, saying he has given no indication he will give up his aim of controlling Ukraine. Reports last week suggested Putin might skip the summit before Trump formally invited him.
The invitation may shape how publics and allies view U.S. diplomacy, potentially affecting trust among NATO governments and Ukrainian citizens. It could also influence Russian domestic perceptions by suggesting greater international acceptance of Putin. For Americans, the choice may intensify debates about presidential ethics, summit security, and the use of a private venue for high-stakes diplomacy. Observers could see it as either a peace opening or a reward for aggression, depending on outcomes.