Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky categorically rejected the possibility of a Ukrainian delegation traveling to Moscow for negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The head of state emphasized that Ukraine is only ready for dialogue outside the Russian Federation and Belarus, which, according to him, are aggressor parties in this war.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Zelensky Emphasized Acceptable Locations for Negotiations
“I cannot come to negotiations with Putin in Moscow, the capital of a country that is an aggressor in this war. We are ready to support the proposals of the United States of America, to meet in any territories – America, Europe, neutral countries, any states except for the Russian Federation and Belarus, as Belarus is an ally in the attack on Ukraine in 2022,” Zelensky said in response to journalists’ questions in audio format.
The president stressed that he excludes the possibility of holding negotiations in both Russia and Belarus, as the latter supported the military offensive against Ukraine in 2022. As an alternative, Zelensky suggested organizing dialogue on the territory of the USA, European countries, or neutral states.
International Reaction and Recent Rounds of Negotiations
At the end of January, a proposal was voiced in the Russian capital to hold the next stage of negotiations in Moscow; however, at that time, Zelensky had already stated the impossibility of such a visit. The president also proposed a meeting with Putin on neutral territory if he would consider it.
This week, the Russian side again expressed its readiness to host the Ukrainian delegation. However, negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, with the participation of the United States, have taken place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The location for the next round of negotiations has yet to be determined and announced.