Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the Kremlin’s proposal to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia, but has expressed a willingness to discuss in a different format.
Addressing the media on January 30, Zelenskyy said he was inviting Putin to come to Kyiv.
“I can just as well invite him to Kyiv, let him come. I’m openly inviting him, if he dares,” he said.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine remains open to constructive negotiations to achieve a genuine end to the war.
He said that any format for a leader’s meeting could work and noted that while the outcome is uncertain, it would likely be better than the current situation.
The Ukrainian President also alleged that invitations to Moscow often arise when a party is unwilling to meet but cannot openly refuse for political reasons.
Zelenskyy Invited to Moscow for Peace Talks
On January 28, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy would be welcome in Moscow if he wishes to meet with Putin.
Ushakov noted that a potential Putin-Zelenskyy meeting had been discussed several times during phone conversations between Putin and US President Donald Trump, who suggested it be considered.
“I’d like to say a few words regarding his statement that Zelenskyy is ready to meet with the Russian president. This is not a new issue for us. It has been discussed several times during telephone contacts between our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and President Trump of the US,” Ushakov said.
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The Kremlin aide added that Russia would guarantee Zelenskyy’s safety and provide working conditions should he travel to Moscow.
He stressed that Moscow has never refused contact with Ukraine, but emphasized that any meeting must be carefully prepared and focused on achieving concrete results.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
Recently, Zelenskyy said his negotiating team could meet with Russian and U.S. representatives as soon as Sunday, February 1.
He confirmed that he is ready to meet Putin, although his foreign minister Andrii Sybiha noted that the most sensitive issues remain unresolved.
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Before the talks in the United Arab Emirates last weekend, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that the parties’ differences had narrowed to a single, solvable issue.
A second round of trilateral talks, scheduled for Friday in Abu Dhabi, could be delayed due to rising tensions in Iran, according to Zelenskyy.
Delegates from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine met the previous week to address their differences ahead of the follow-up meeting.
Zelenskyy stressed that the presence of all parties is essential for providing feedback, but the date or location could change depending on developments in U.S.-Iran relations.
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