KATHMANDU – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to hold talks in Moscow.
He said that given the state of war, Moscow was an impossible location, and instead invited Putin to hold talks in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
Speaking to American media, Zelensky said, “I cannot go to the capital of this terrorist, because Ukraine is under daily missile attacks and shelling.” He added, “If Putin truly wants to negotiate, he must come to Kyiv.” Earlier, Putin had said that he was ready for talks, but only if they were held in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had stated that Moscow’s invitation was “for negotiations, not for surrender.” But Zelensky remarked that the invitation was simply a way of refusing genuine talks.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has long been pressing for a direct meeting between the two leaders. He recently said that the main purpose of his summit with Putin in Alaska was also to encourage such talks.
According to Trump, although negotiations might have been possible following Zelensky’s Washington visit and discussions with European leaders, the process stalled after Moscow imposed additional conditions and escalated attacks on Ukrainian cities.
