Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Vladimir Putin come to Kyiv for talks to end the war he started, after rejecting an offer by the Russian leader to go to Moscow.
The Russian president has said he would not travel anywhere for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, although he has suggested he would be open to a meeting in Moscow.
But in an interview with ABC News, the Ukrainian president dismissed this possibility, saying he “can’t go to the capital of this terrorist.”
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine, which supports communities on the war’s frontline, told Newsweek that Putin’s invitation was simply “a strategic move to manipulate” U.S. President Trump, who is pushing for the leaders to meet.
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment.
Why It Matters
Zelensky’s comments come as the prospect of negotiations with Putin to end the war continue to remain distant, despite Trump‘s insistence in August that he had made a meeting between the leaders a priority.
What To Know
During the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin said that he had no intention of travelling for talks with Zelensky but was open to a meeting with the Ukrainian president in Moscow.
He added that he was “ready” for such a meeting and that Moscow would provide the required security conditions for such a meeting.
However, when asked about such a prospect, Zelensky laughed and shook his head, telling ABC that he could not visit Moscow when his country was facing missile bombardments ordered by Putin every day.
Trump met with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15 and has made a trilateral meeting between leaders of the U.S., Russia and Ukraine the goal of his summit.
Trump also said a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky would happen after the Ukrainian leader came to the White House.
But Zelensky told ABC that Putin’s offer was intended to “postpone the meeting,” and that Putin was “playing games with the United States.”
Boyechko, from Hope for Ukraine, told Newsweek that Putin’s insistence on Zelensky meeting in Moscow was a strategic move to manipulate Trump, shift blame away from Russia, and exploit the U.S. administration’s desperation to show progress in the peace process.
The Ukrainian president will never travel to Moscow to meet with Putin due to security concerns, and Putin knows that, said Boyechko.
Putin will keep telling White House officials that he’s ready to meet with Zelensky in Moscow, so that Trump feels satisfied and believes his meeting in Alaska achieved something and this way, the blame shifts from Putin to Zelensky, he added.
What People Are Saying
Russian President Vladimir Putin: “The Ukrainian side wants this meeting and is proposing it. I said, ‘I’m ready. Please come’. We will definitely provide the conditions for work and security.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky per ABC: “He (Putin) can come to Kyiv…I can’t go to Moscow when my country’s under missiles, under attack, each day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist.”
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO Hope for Ukraine: “Putin has realized that the Trump administration feels cornered and is willing to accept any absurd proposal from the Kremlin just to deflect attention from its failed peace process efforts.”
What Happens Next
Despite Trump’s determination for a meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this week it was “clear” that a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky would not take place.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said this week that seven countries—Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states were ready to host peace talks that Zelenskyy would attend.
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