Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a sharp response to the Kremlin's proposals for a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin. During a speech at a summit in London, the Ukrainian leader clearly stated his position: negotiations in Moscow are impossible. "Ukraine does not play these games," Zelenskyy declared, noting that the format of the meeting must be fundamentally different.
Neutral Territory as a Condition
Refusing to visit the Russian capital, Zelenskyy immediately proposed alternative options. According to him, negotiations can only take place in a neutral country. As possible venues, he named Switzerland, Turkey, or countries in the Middle East. However, the Ukrainian president expressed skepticism regarding Moscow's readiness for dialogue, stating that Vladimir Putin "does not want the war to end".
Missed Opportunities and the Role of the US
Zelenskyy described the question of resuming negotiations with US mediation as complicated. He admitted that he had hoped for the possibility of a meeting with the Russian leader during the "G7" summit, but Russia did not support this initiative. "I am not sure that they received positive signals from the United States," the President of Ukraine shared.
Separately, he mentioned a dialogue with Donald Trump, with whom they discussed the possibility of holding a meeting on US territory. According to Kyiv, such a format would make it difficult for the Russian leader to evade the process. Zelenskyy also spoke about an attempt to organize a meeting in Switzerland through French President Emmanuel Macron, but Russia did not respond this time either.
Kyiv Proposed a Meeting in Advance
According to RBC-Ukraine, Kyiv had previously conveyed a proposal to Moscow through intermediaries, diplomatic channels, and intelligence services for a meeting of leaders during the G7 summit with the participation of the US President. Despite these efforts, the Kremlin continued to insist on a meeting in Moscow, which was rejected by the Ukrainian side.