Putin Signals Readiness to Meet Zelensky, But Only in Moscow

NBC News

Putin and Zelensky

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that he is willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, provided the meeting is held in Moscow and is carefully prepared in advance.

Speaking during a press conference in Beijing on 3 September, Putin said he had “never refused” the possibility of direct talks, but emphasised that such a meeting should lead to practical outcomes. He noted that the matter had also been raised in a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ukraine, however, expressed reservations about the proposal. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that several countries had already offered to host talks on neutral ground, adding that Kyiv considered this approach more appropriate.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that no meeting has yet been scheduled. He stressed that certain conditions would need to be addressed beforehand, including issues relating to security, legislation, and relations between Moscow and Kyiv.

The Kremlin has previously underlined that any top-level summit should follow expert-level negotiations and agreement on a framework for discussion.

While both sides continue to voice their positions, the possibility of a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders remains uncertain.



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