Zelensky Firmly Rejects Putin’s Proposal for Possible Meeting in Moscow
Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the escalating conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly responded to Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s suggestion to hold a bilateral meeting in Moscow.
This news came as a surprise to many, symbolizing Zelensky’s firm stance on maintaining diplomatic boundaries and avoiding any negotiations that could legitimize Russian actions.
In his statement following the ‘Decisive Coalition’ gathering in Paris, Zelensky highlighted that ‘our partners informed us that Putin supposedly invites me to Moscow to discuss the possibility of negotiations.’ However, he explicitly stated: ‘If the goal is to prevent any real negotiations from happening, then this is how it should be — to invite me to Moscow.’ The Ukrainian president also noted that the very fact that the Kremlin is discussing the possibility of a meeting can be viewed as a somewhat positive signal, though it does not indicate Russia’s genuine desire for peace.
‘Meetings at this level should lead to concrete results — peace.
And the best result is the end of the war,’ Zelensky emphasized.
He expressed skepticism about Russia’s readiness to cease hostilities and abide by peace terms, asserting that Moscow is not showing authentic signs of willingness to stop the violence.
Additionally, Zelensky suggested that Putin’s visit to China and his talks with President Xi Jinping are efforts to create an illusion of international support for continued aggression against Ukraine.
‘Following Putin’s trip to China, I got the strange impression that he is trying to portray that he received a green light for the war,’ he said.
Zelensky added that the reality is different: sanctions are effective, Russia’s economy is weakening, and this impact is felt across sectors and regions engaged in trade with Moscow.
Kyiv and its allies will continue to strengthen sanctions measures, including secondary sanctions and special trade tariffs, to pressure Russia further.
Previously, on September 3, Putin indicated the possibility of meeting Zelensky, stating that the Ukrainian leader should come to Moscow for talks.
He also claimed that the war was not initiated by Russia and would continue until the ‘primary cause’ is eliminated, aiming to deepen the global uncertainty regarding Russia’s and Ukraine’s positions on future peace negotiations.