UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that addressing the Ukraine conflict will be a priority at the G20 summit in Brazil, despite not planning to speak directly to Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, the summit will see leaders from around the world gather almost 1,000 days into the Ukraine-Russia war.

Russian President Putin will be absent, sending Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead.

The meeting occurs amidst significant political divisions regarding Ukraine and concerns about the potential policy shifts with Donald Trump returning to the US presidency.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face aggression, with Russia launching a significant missile and drone attack against its energy infrastructure recently.

The summit will bring together leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, and the outgoing US President Joe Biden.

Starmer emphasized the UK's ongoing support for Ukraine, citing the recent involvement of North Korean soldiers with Russian forces as a concerning development for both European and Indo-Pacific security.

Despite potential challenges and disagreements among participants on issues such as economic policy and climate change, Starmer expressed commitment to enhancing economic growth and inward investment while addressing global security concerns.

Argentinian President Javier Milei, a close ally of Trump, poses additional challenges to the summit's unified message, leading French President Emmanuel Macron to engage diplomatically to ensure a positive outcome.