Zelenskyy responds to proposal to meet Putin in Moscow, sets condition

Speaking to journalists, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ruled out the possibility of holding direct talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on the territory of Russia or Belarus.

The Head of State stressed that invitations for the Ukrainian side to come to Moscow were merely a political game by those who, in reality, had no intention of negotiating an end to the war.

On the venue of a possible meeting

Zelenskyy says that a meeting in Moscow is just as impossible as Putin travelling to Kyiv under current conditions, but adds that he is ready for a mirror move.

“Of course, it is impossible for me to meet Putin in Moscow. I can just as well invite him to Kyiv — let him come. I am publicly inviting him, if he dares, of course,” the president said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that talks in Belarus were not being considered, as one country is the aggressor and the other its partner in the war against Ukraine.

“I have always said: I am ready for any format to end the war that can work. But in Moscow and Belarus this is simply impossible, and it is absolutely clear why — because these are states, one of which is the aggressor that started and is waging a war against us, killing us, and the other is its partner in these actions,” he said.

Purpose of negotiations and format

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine seeks to reach a constructive agreement for a genuine cessation of hostilities, rather than merely creating the appearance of a process.

- Main goal: an effective meeting to resolve difficult issues.

- Format: Ukraine supports the participation of European leaders, although the president expressed doubt that Russia would agree to the presence of mediators during discussions on the most sensitive topics.

“Of course, we always advocate for Europeans to be involved. But I am not sure the other two parties would support this format specifically for a leaders’ meeting. Not for security guarantees, for example, but precisely for the most difficult issues,” the president said.

- Flexibility: Kyiv is ready for any realistic leaders’ format that could yield results.

“We take the need to end the war seriously. I have said — any real format for a leaders’ meeting is acceptable. I do not know what result it will bring. But at the very least it will be greater than what is happening today,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.