Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Vladimir Putin’s invitation to meet in Moscow, calling it unrealistic. Zelenskyy suggested Putin should come to Kyiv instead. He told ABC News that he could not visit “the capital of this terrorist” while Ukraine faced constant missile and artillery attacks. He argued Moscow’s choice of venue showed Russia lacked genuine interest in negotiations.
Diplomatic Efforts Face Stalemate
Former US President Donald Trump pushed for face-to-face talks between the two leaders. He aimed to secure a bilateral or trilateral meeting during his summit with Putin in Alaska. Trump later insisted that Putin and Zelenskyy would meet after the Ukrainian leader visited Washington and consulted European allies. However, Moscow added new conditions, delaying progress and intensifying shelling of Ukrainian cities. Putin recently said he was “ready” to meet Zelenskyy in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that the invitation aimed at talks, not capitulation. Speaking in Paris, Zelenskyy replied that inviting him to Moscow meant Russia did not want a meeting to happen. He noted that Russia even discussing options for talks marked limited progress. Trump told CBS News, “Something will happen, but they are not ready yet … We’re going to do it,” without giving a timeline.
Zelenskyy Denounces Russian Strikes
On Saturday, Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched more than 1,300 drones, 900 guided bombs, and 50 missiles against Ukraine in just five days. He said the strikes targeted 14 regions across the country. He accused Moscow of prolonging the war and turning diplomacy into “a blatant farce.” Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to respond decisively with stronger sanctions, greater arms supplies, and tighter restrictions on Russian oil and gas.
