President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had proposed meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.
On Monday, speaking at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which was damaged during Russia’s overnight missile and drone attack, Zelensky said Ukraine had suggested a meeting involving Putin, US President Donald Trump, and European leaders attending the summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
According to Reuters, Zelensky said Washington and European partners supported the idea, but Moscow showed no willingness to participate.
“We gave a message that we are ready to meet with Putin during G7, because Trump is there and Macron is there, so Europeans plus America. This is a very good opportunity to meet all together,” Zelensky told reporters.
“Europe and the United States agreed, but Russia demonstrated again that they are not ready to speak,” he added.
A Ukrainian official told Reuters that Kyiv informed both the US and French governments about the proposal and also passed the invitation directly to Russian representatives.
No clear answer was received, the official said.
Latest attempt to launch direct talks
The proposal follows Zelensky’s recent public call for a direct meeting with Putin to help end Russia’s full-scale invasion and achieve a ceasefire.
Earlier this month, Zelensky published an open letter suggesting a summit in a neutral country such as Switzerland, Turkey, or an Arab state, with the US and Europe participating as potential security mediators.
EXPLAINED: Ukraine’s Mid-Range Drone Strikes vs. Russia – Damage Done and What’s Next
Putin publicly rejected the idea, saying he saw no reason for a personal meeting and arguing that negotiations would primarily benefit Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, the Russian side once again chooses war,” Zelensky said after Putin dismissed the proposal.
Zelensky argued that Moscow is not interested in meaningful negotiations and continues to pursue military objectives despite growing economic pressure and battlefield losses.
Air defense remains top priority
During a recent meeting in London, the E3 nations (UK, France and Germany) worked alongside Zelensky to formulate a five-point basic plan for war settlement.
Zelensky said his main goal at the G7 summit would be securing additional air defense systems for Ukraine, after another large-scale Russian attack.
European leaders are intent on securing Trump’s backing for these points, believing a unified US-European front could significantly increase pressure on Moscow to enter genuine negotiations as early as next month.
“We will have meetings with Europeans and also with President Trump. We will speak with him about how to push Putin to stop this war,” Zelensky said.
He added that strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, particularly protection against ballistic missiles, remains one of Kyiv’s most urgent needs.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
