Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, has declined Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation for talks in Moscow. Zelenskyy stated that he cannot visit the capital city of a country that persistently attacks Ukraine with missiles. During a discussion, Zelenskyy directly challenged Putin, suggesting that the Russian leader should travel to Kyiv if he truly wants to have discussions. Zelenskyy described Putin’s invitation as a political maneuver designed to prolong the dialogue. Putin had previously indicated his willingness to meet with Zelenskyy, proposing Moscow as a potential meeting location, on the condition it was well-prepared and aimed at producing a positive outcome. Putin also reiterated his opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, considering it a threat to Russia, while showing less objection to Ukraine’s EU aspirations. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Putin for disregarding the offers from various nations to host talks, labeling the proposal as ‘knowingly unacceptable.’ Sybiha pointed out that several countries are prepared to host a meeting between the leaders, and the need for stronger pressure to force Russia to engage in serious peace talks.
