Putin Says He Is Open To Meeting Zelensky In Moscow, Kyiv Rejects Proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that he is willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow, though Kyiv immediately dismissed the offer as unacceptable.

Speaking at the close of a visit to China, Putin insisted he had “never ruled out” talks with Zelensky but questioned whether such a meeting would achieve results. “As for a meeting with Zelensky, I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But is there any point? Let’s see,” he said.

Putin added that Ukraine would need to lift martial law, conduct elections, and hold a referendum on territorial matters for progress to be made.

Zelensky has pushed for direct talks, with U.S. President Donald Trump also urging the two leaders to meet as part of efforts to broker peace. On Wednesday, Trump said he plans to speak with Putin “very shortly” and “over the next few days” as the two-week deadline he set for agreeing to talks with Zelensky approaches.

“We’ve taken very strong action, as you know, and in other ways, we’ve taken very strong action. But I’ll be speaking to him over the next few days, and we’re going to see…” Trump said. The president added he is “not happy” with the recent death toll from both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. “They have to stop killing,” he stated.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha countered Putin’s remarks, stressing that multiple nations — including Austria, Switzerland, the Vatican, and three Gulf states — had already offered to host. “These are serious proposals and President Zelensky is ready for such a meeting at any point in time,” he wrote on X, accusing Putin of making “knowingly unacceptable proposals.”

Russia claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions in 2022, a move rejected internationally as an unlawful land grab.

Putin also noted Russia could, “if necessary,” raise the level of its negotiating team and said he was satisfied with Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who heads Moscow’s delegation.

Turning to relations with Washington, Putin confirmed that an invitation remains open for Trump to visit Russia, though no planning is underway. The invitation was first extended at their Alaska summit last month, where Putin ended the meeting by saying in English, “next time in Moscow.”

Putin further commented that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had accurately conveyed Moscow’s positions to Washington, despite criticism that the businessman was unqualified for the role.

He also responded humorously to Trump’s recent remarks suggesting a conspiracy between Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, saying Trump’s comment showed he had a “sense of humor.”

Despite occasional optimism expressed by Russia’s partners in China, the war in Ukraine shows no sign of nearing resolution. Trump, for his part, said Tuesday he was “very disappointed” with Putin.