Moscow only: Kremlin sets condition for Putin–Zelenskyy meeting
Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: RBC-Ukraine collage)
The Kremlin insists that contacts between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin are "possible only in Moscow," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media.
"Zelenskyy proposes contacts, Putin said they are possible in Moscow. This position remains our position," Peskov told journalists.
What preceded
After talks between delegations of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi, the United States did not rule out that a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin could take place in the near future.
In Russia, the possibility of talks between Zelenskyy and Putin was allowed, but the Ukrainian leader was insistently invited to come to Moscow.
The first invitation for talks was made by Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov.
"We invite him to Moscow and guarantee security and the necessary conditions for work," he said.
Later, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov voiced a similar position, noting that discussing any other location for the meeting was inappropriate.
In response, Zelenskyy categorically rejected the possibility of meeting the Russian president in Moscow and publicly invited the Kremlin leader to Kyiv.
He emphasized that Ukraine wants to reach a constructive agreement on a real end to the war, as well as hold a meeting that could be effective.
According to the head of state, he is ready for any format regarding ending the war that works.
"But in Moscow and Belarus, this is simply impossible, and it is absolutely clear why," the president explained.
