Putin has not taken part in a G20 summit since Russia began its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The International Criminal Court currently has an active arrest warrant for him. Carney’s intended wording echoes former prime minister Stephen Harper’s 2014 G20 comment, when he told Putin to “get out of Ukraine” after the annexation of Crimea.

Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov attended, and several other ministers, including Canada’s finance minister, said his presence created discomfort around the table.

A direct, public message from a Canadian leader at a high‑profile summit could underline Canada’s support for Ukraine and may add to the diplomatic pressure on Russia. It also shows how summit settings are used by countries to signal their positions on international conflicts.