Zelenskyy: Invitation to Moscow is a way to avoid real negotiations

Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea of negotiations with Putin in Moscow. Photo: Getty Images

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he does not consider it possible to hold negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while emphasising Ukraine's readiness for any effective format of meeting to end the war.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a conversation with journalists, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

«Of course, it is impossible for me to meet with Putin in Moscow. It's the same as meeting with Putin in Kyiv. I can also invite him to Kyiv, let him come. I publicly invite him, if he dares, of course,» the president said.

According to the head of state, Ukraine is interested in constructive negotiations that could lead to a real end to the war.

At the same time, he suggested that persistent invitations to Moscow could be a way to avoid real negotiations.

«But if someone does not want to meet but cannot afford to say so directly for some reason, then these invitations to Moscow are made. It is clear what is happening,» the president said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that any real format for a meeting between leaders is acceptable to Ukraine if it can produce results.

«I have always said that I am ready for any format that will end the war and that will work. But in Moscow and Belarus, this is simply impossible, and it is absolutely clear why — because these are states, one of which is an aggressor that started and is waging war against us, killing us, and the other country is its partner in these actions,» he concluded.

Recall that Russian Presidential Aide Yurii Ushakov told Russian media that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wanted to meet with Vladimir Putin. He also assured that if the Ukrainian president came to the Russian capital, his safety would allegedly be guaranteed.

Recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready for a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin as part of peace talks to resolve two key issues — regarding territories and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.