Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that he travel to Moscow for negotiations. Speaking in an interview with ABC News Zelensky said Putin is not seeking a real meeting as he continues the war against Ukraine.
“He can come to Kyiv,” Zelensky said. “I can’t go to Moscow when my country’s under missiles, under attack, each day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist.”
Putin “understands this,” he added.
Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that Putin does not seek a genuine dialogue while continuing military actions against Ukraine.
On Sept. 3, Putin said he had “never ruled out” direct talks with Zelensky, adding, “If Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow.” The Kremlin described such a meeting as a potential step toward ending the full-scale war, now in its fourth year.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin claimed Russia was ready for a high-level meeting.
“Please come, we will absolutely ensure the conditions for work and security. A one hundred percent guarantee,” he said.
Putin rejected holding such talks in a third country, insisting the Russian capital was the only option.
“The best place for this is the capital of the Russian Federation, the Hero City of Moscow,” he said, referring to the honorary Soviet title granted in 1965, 20 years after the end of WWII – a distinction also given to Kyiv.
The idea of negotiations also surfaced after Putin’s Aug. 15 talks in Alaska with US President Donald Trump, who said he was working to facilitate a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. The Kremlin denied that any agreement had been reached.
The US president vowed to keep pressing for a deal, calling his stance “realistic and optimistic.”
He plans another round of talks in the coming days and is preparing a phone call with Putin, according to the White House.
The Kremlin later said Putin had “no preparations” for talks with Trump but could arrange them quickly if needed, as reported by Interfax Russia.
Peskov described their conversations as “difficult,” with each side defending national interests. “But Putin values this highly. He is grateful to Trump for that,” he said.
Trump recently expressed frustration over stalled negotiations. “We always had a great relationship… But I am very disappointed in President Putin,” he said, pledging to “do something” to help Ukrainians “live.”