Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Vladimir Putin’s proposal to meet in Moscow, calling it unrealistic and insincere. Zelenskyy told ABC News that Ukraine faces daily missile strikes and constant shelling, making such a meeting impossible. He stressed that he could not travel “to the capital of this terrorist” under current conditions. Instead, he insisted Putin should come to Kyiv for talks.
U.S. Pushes for Direct Negotiations
U.S. President Donald Trump promoted face-to-face talks between the two leaders, making it a goal of his Alaska summit with Putin. Trump announced that Putin and Zelenskyy would meet after Zelenskyy visited Washington and held talks with European leaders. Moscow, however, added conditions and escalated its attacks on Ukrainian cities, delaying progress. This week, Putin declared readiness to meet in Moscow, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the invitation was “to talk, not to capitulate.” Speaking in Paris after a summit of the “coalition of the resolute,” Zelenskyy argued that inviting him to Moscow only proved Russia wanted no real meeting. He noted that Russia’s willingness to even discuss options for a personal meeting counted as a small step. Trump later told CBS News that talks would happen but offered no timeline.
Zelenskyy Denounces Russia’s Escalation
On Saturday, Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched more than 1,300 drones, nearly 900 guided bombs, and around 50 missiles in just five days. He said strikes damaged 14 Ukrainian regions, proving Russia aims to prolong the war while mocking diplomacy. He described Moscow’s behavior as turning negotiations “into a blatant farce.” Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, expand weapons supplies, and enforce stricter limits on Russian oil and gas exports.
