The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, made a statement that he does not intend to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, instead inviting the Russian leader to come to Kyiv. Zelensky emphasized that he cannot visit the capital of the aggressor country while Ukraine is under constant shelling.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“He can come to Kyiv. I cannot go to Moscow when my country is under rockets, under attacks every day. I cannot go to the capital of this terrorist.”
Stalling Negotiations and the Role of the U.S.
Zelensky highlighted that Putin’s initiative to hold a meeting in Moscow is an attempt to stall the negotiation process. According to the President of Ukraine, the Russian leader realizes that a personal meeting in Moscow is currently impossible, while at the same time “playing games with the United States.”
Throughout this week, Putin has twice stated his readiness to host Zelensky in Moscow, although he himself doubts the feasibility of such a meeting, calling the Ukrainian government “illegitimate” and promising security guarantees for the Ukrainian president.
International Community’s Reaction and Possible Locations for Negotiations
The American Institute for the Study of War noted that such statements from Putin only indicate his unwillingness to achieve peace. According to analysts, this creates a basis for a possible refusal by Russia of any peace agreement in the future.
Previously, Zelensky has repeatedly confirmed his readiness for a personal meeting with Putin to resolve the conflict. He called for a transition from technical negotiations to dialogue at the leaders’ level, emphasizing that Ukraine supports such initiatives, as does the U.S., and is awaiting a response from Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump, after his meeting with Putin in Alaska, predicted the possibility of trilateral negotiations involving the leaders of the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. In an interview with CBS News, Trump noted that neither Putin nor Zelensky are currently ready for dialogue, but “something will happen” in the future.
Several European countries and Turkey have expressed their willingness to organize such a meeting, proposing Hungary and Switzerland as venues. The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs even promised to grant Putin immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court during his stay in the country for peace talks regarding Ukraine.
At the same time, official representatives of the Kremlin, including Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, do not confirm any agreements regarding a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. Ushakov, who participated in the negotiations in Alaska, noted that there were also no relevant agreements between Putin and Trump.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after returning from the SCO summit in China, reported that both leaders – Putin and Zelensky – are currently “not ready for a meeting yet.”