The President of Ukraine is ready for a personal meeting with Putin, but categorically rejects the possibility of negotiations in Moscow. Advisor to the Presidential Office Serhiy Leshchenko said this, stressing that Moscow is not an acceptable platform for dialogue.
Zelenskyy is ready to meet with Putin
Advisor Office of the President Sergey Leshchenko said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy ready for a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss current issues between Ukraine and Russia. According to him, the Ukrainian side does not rule out the possibility of negotiations, but insists on a neutral platform.
Leshchenko emphasised that the format negotiations in Moscow is unacceptable to Kyiv. He stressed that Moscow is the capital of the aggressor state, so this option is not being considered.
Reaction of the Russian side
In response to the Ukrainian adviser's statement, Russian presidential aide Ushakov said that Putin was ready to receive Zelensky in Moscow. He stressed that the Russian side is open to dialogue if the Ukrainian leader agrees to come to the Russian capital.
This position of official Moscow indicates a desire to control the location and format of potential negotiations. However, the Ukrainian side remains committed to its principled position on the location of the meeting.
Kyiv's position on the negotiations
According to Sergey Leshchenko, Ukraine is ready for dialogue, but not on Russia's terms. Kyiv is considering only those options that do not contradict national interests and do not call into question the sovereignty of the state.
The Presidential Office emphasises that any negotiations should take place on neutral territory or in intermediary countries. This will avoid additional political pressure and ensure equality of the parties.
Why it matters
The refusal to negotiate in Moscow demonstrates Ukraine's clear position that no concessions on issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity are acceptable. This approach is aimed not only at protecting national interests but also at shaping a transparent international approach to conflict resolution.
A potential meeting of the leaders could be an important step towards reducing tensions, but the location of the talks remains a fundamental issue for Kyiv. The lack of a compromise on the location underscores the depth of the differences between the parties and the difficulty of finding common ground.
In the international context, the situation surrounding the upcoming meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin will be crucial for further diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
