Following a massive drone and missile strike, Kyiv has rejected the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow.
Putin, addressing a media gathering in Beijing, said the Ukrainian leader could travel to Moscow to negotiate a peace deal to end the conflict. Türkiye, which hosted the recent talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine, has expressed readiness to host talks along with Hungary and Switzerland.
On Wednesday, Russia launched a major drone and missile strike on Kyiv, causing massive infrastructure damage in several parts of the capital city. In his post on X, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrey Sibiga said that at least seven countries are prepared to host a potential Putin-Zelensky summit. “These are serious proposals and President Zelensky is ready for such a meeting at any time,” he wrote, using the Ukrainian spelling of Zelensky’s name.
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“Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals,” Sibiga wrote, calling for “increased pressure” on Russia.
The Russian president has constantly said that the meeting with Zelensky was at the “final stage” of negotiations. He said he would meet the Ukrainian leader if it were “properly prepared and would yield positive results.”
Putin said, “If Zelensky wants a deal and is open to negotiating, he can travel to Moscow.” Meanwhile, he has questioned Zelensky’s status as a leader who could sign the agreement documents since Putin believes his five-year term expired last year.
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