Ukraine has submitted a proposal to Russia for a meeting between the heads of state at the G7 summit to discuss paths to peace. This was reported by a source in the government who spoke with the publication RBC-Ukraine.
Diplomatic Channels and Negotiation Format
According to the source, the initiative was conveyed to the Kremlin through multiple channels: intermediaries, diplomats, and intelligence services. The essence of the proposal was to organize negotiations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. A key condition was the presence of G7 leaders at the meeting, specifically US President Donald Trump.
However, there was no official response from the Russian side. Instead, Russian Presidential Aide Fyodor Ushakov suggested that the Ukrainian side "come to Moscow." Experts and sources at the Presidential Administration interpret the lack of a clear reaction and subsequent events as an indirect response to the peace initiative.
Reaction to the Proposal
Shortly after the proposal was delivered, a shelling occurred, which Ukrainian officials view as a specific reaction to the attempt at dialogue. This underscores the complexity of the current stage of negotiations and the lack of readiness for constructive interaction on the part of Russia.
Zelensky's Previous Initiatives
Recently, Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Vladimir Putin, proposing a one-on-one personal meeting to launch the process of ending the war. Possible venues mentioned included Switzerland, Turkey, or countries of the Arab world.
Today, the President of Ukraine clarified that he also proposed holding a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, which is scheduled to take place later this week. Additionally, yesterday Zelensky had a phone conversation with Donald Trump, and the leaders agreed on a personal meeting within the framework of the summit.