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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed to Russian leader Vladimir Putin that they hold talks on a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine in Kyiv. The Ukrainian president stated this in an interview with the American television channel ABC News on Friday, September 5.
"He (Putin) can come to Kyiv. I can't go to Moscow when my country is subjected to daily missile attacks and attacks. I can't go to the capital of this terrorist," Zelenskyy emphasized. He believes the Russian leader understands this position.
Earlier that day, Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, declared that Moscow was "the best place" for peace talks. He also promised Zelenskyy 100% security guarantees if he visited the Russian capital and called proposals to meet in other countries "excessive."
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Putin “does not want to meet and end the war” and, in his opinion, “is playing games with the United States.”
Possible alternative negotiating platforms had been discussed previously. On August 28, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated the need to renew the peace settlement discussion, noting that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin "clearly will not take place." On September 2, Merz also raised the possibility of holding direct talks in Geneva.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced that seven countries have expressed their willingness to provide a venue for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine: Austria, the Holy See (Vatican), Switzerland, Turkey, and three Gulf states. According to Sybiha, Ukraine is ready to hold negotiations at any time.
