Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent proposal to hold bilateral peace negotiations in Moscow. Zelensky emphasized that he prefers to meet in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, rather than in Russia.
In a statement, Zelensky indicated that he considers Kyiv a more appropriate venue for discussions, citing national sovereignty and the desire to conduct negotiations on Ukrainian soil. He did not specify further details about the conditions under which a meeting might occur but reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance that any peace talks should respect its territorial integrity.
The demand by Putin for a meeting in Moscow was met with Zelensky’s refusal, signaling ongoing tensions and differing viewpoints on the negotiation process. The international community continues to monitor developments as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict proceed amid these disagreements.