Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decisively rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for them to meet in Moscow for talks, insisting that he will not travel to a capital that fires missiles at his country daily. Zelenskyy's position was first announced in an exclusive interview with ABC News, which shed light on the complex diplomatic situation amid the ongoing conflict.
In a direct response to the Kremlin's offer, Zelenskyy stated without hesitation: "He can come to Kyiv". This invitation underscores the Ukrainian leader's determination to conduct talks only on his own territory, a clear signal of sovereignty and a rejection of any symbolic gestures that could be interpreted as a retreat. "I cannot go to Moscow when my country is under missile attacks every day. I cannot go to the capital of this terrorist", he was quoted as saying, indicating his deep distrust and outrage at the Russian military actions.
President Zelenskyy expressed doubts that Putin's proposal was sincere. According to him, the offer is a tactical maneuver aimed at "delaying the meeting". The Ukrainian leader confirmed that he remains "ready for the meeting" in "any format", but made it clear that Putin is not seeking serious dialogue while the war continues. He accused the Russian president of "playing games with the United States", which hints at a broader geopolitical context and attempts to divert attention from the aggression against Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyy, the proposal to meet in Moscow was intentionally crafted to be rejected. "If someone does not want to meet during the war, of course, they can offer something that cannot be acceptable to me or to others", he concluded.
For his part, Russian President Putin told the media on Wednesday that he "has never been against meeting with Zelenskyy". He renewed the invitation, stating: "If Zelenskyy is ready, let him come to Moscow". Putin even assured that "this meeting will take place", creating the impression of openness to dialogue, albeit on his own terms.
International Mediation and Alternative Proposals
Meanwhile, international mediation efforts continue. Former US President Donald Trump has made a meeting between the two leaders a key priority in his attempts to mediate a peace agreement. In an August interview with Fox News, he stated: "I'll ultimately get them in a room together". Later, in an interview with The Daily Caller last week, Trump seemed to adjust his plans, proposing a trilateral meeting, stating: "There will be a trilateral meeting". For a bilateral meeting, however, he said: "A bilateral one... I don't know about that".
Hopes for a bilateral meeting were further diminished by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stated this week that it is "clear" that such a meeting will not take place.
Amid these contradictory signals and diplomatic maneuvers, Ukraine continues to seek other options for peace talks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has named seven countries that have expressed readiness to host peace talks, which Zelenskyy would attend:
- Austria
- Vatican City
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Three Gulf states
These proposals represent an alternative path for dialogue, circumventing Russian conditions and providing Ukraine with a more neutral and secure platform to discuss the future of peace.