In a development that will shock absolutely no one who has been paying attention, a group of senators - including seven Republicans - sent an open letter to President Trump on Friday expressing "serious concern" about his invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit in Miami later this year. Yes, the same Putin who is currently waging a war in Ukraine. That Putin.

The letter, signed by Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), John Cornyn (Texas), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), John Curtis (Utah) and Alan Armstrong (Okla.), along with their Democratic colleagues, urged Trump to reconsider granting Putin "the stature and legitimacy to appear in the United States as a world leader at the G20 Leaders' Summit." Because nothing says "international cooperation" quite like handing a stage to a man currently sanctioned by much of the room.

While such letters are standard fare from Democrats - the party opposite the president, in case anyone needed a refresher - the Republican signatures went beyond the usual suspects in the GOP's anti-Trump wing. Their support demonstrates that Senate Republicans generally still back Ukraine in its war with Russia, and some have apparently grown more willing to push back on Trump amid his low approval rating. A novel concept: politicians responding to public opinion.

The letter also cited the recently passed Russia-Iran sanctions bill, named for former Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who was one of the Senate's staunchest defenders of Ukraine before his death in July. That bill increased sanctions on Russia, hoping to squeeze it economically as its aggression in Ukraine continues four years after invading that country. Four years. The war, not the sanctions.

But Russian officials have still been present at official meetings around the U.S. in recent months, the senators said, even those who are already sanctioned. "It is troubling that, despite being sanctioned, these individuals have been given access to participate in G20 forums hosted in the United States," the senators wrote. "The G20 is intended to foster international cooperation on critical issues including finance, trade and global economic stability. As Russia continues its war against Ukraine and refuses to agree to a just and lasting peace agreement, its government should not be afforded a business-as-usual treatment alongside other nations at G20 events." So, to recap: sanctioned officials, official meetings, business as usual. Everything is fine.

Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Wicker, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a similar letter to administration officials in April questioning Russian delegates' participation in meetings with members of Congress and executive branch officials. Apparently, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The G20 Leaders' Summit is an annual gathering of representatives from 19 sovereign nations, plus the European Union and African Union, representing 85 percent of the gross world product and more than half the world's population. Trump is hosting it in December at his resort in Miami. Because of course he is.

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