Putin Invites Zelenskyy to Moscow for Talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in Moscow, insisting he has “never refused” a meeting. This statement came during a Wednesday visit where Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of World War II, according to the state news agency Tass.
“If Zelenskyy is willing to meet, he should come to Moscow,” Putin remarked, reflecting the rhetoric coming from the Kremlin.
Interestingly, the office of Zelenskyy did not provide an immediate comment in response to these remarks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticized Putin for making what he called a “deliberate, unacceptable proposal.” Kuleba emphasized that Zelenskyy is open to peace talks in neutral locations like Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland, Turkey, and several Gulf nations. “These are serious options; however, Putin seems to be playing games,” he added. “Increased pressure is the only way the Russians will take the peace process seriously.”
Zelenskyy has suggested meetings with Putin multiple times, frequently proposing the engagement of neutral third-party nations such as Turkey for these discussions. Nevertheless, the Kremlin leader has consistently avoided direct talks with Zelenskyy.
On the topic of a potential visit by Zelenskyy to Russia, security concerns loom large. Former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman pointed out that it’s nearly impossible for Zelenskyy to safely travel to Moscow, especially given that Putin’s stated goal includes ousting him from Kyiv. “Putin invading Ukraine complicates any negotiation,” Hoffman noted. He expressed skepticism about Putin’s sincerity, suggesting that these gestures are designed to create division between Zelenskyy and Western allies.
Despite the staunch support from European leaders for Zelenskyy against Putin, former President Donald Trump’s stance seems less defined since taking office. When asked recently about outcomes of a potential meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump replied, “Yes, there must be,” though it’s not clear whether he interprets Putin’s overtures as genuine or as a political maneuver.
