Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has turned down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation for talks in Moscow, citing ongoing missile strikes on his nation. Zelenskyy mentioned in an interview with international media on Friday (native time) that he can’t go to the capital of a nation that continues to assault Ukraine day by day, suggesting that if Putin really wished dialogue, he ought to journey to Kyiv.
Zelenskyy calls Moscow supply unacceptable
“He can come to Kyiv. If an individual doesn’t wish to meet throughout the struggle, after all, he can suggest one thing which is suitable to me or the opposite. It’s comprehensible; I can’t go to Moscow when my nation’s underneath missiles, underneath assault, every day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
He additional accused the Russian president of turning the proposal right into a political ploy quite than a real peace effort.
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‘Enjoying video games with the US’
“And he understands it… He’s doing it to postpone the assembly. He’s taking part in video games, and he’s taking part in video games with the USA,” Zelenskyy added. His remarks adopted Putin’s latest suggestion {that a} assembly might be held in Moscow if it was “well-prepared” and aimed toward attaining a “constructive end result.”
Putin alerts conditional openness
Throughout a press briefing after his four-day go to to China, Putin reiterated that he had “by no means dominated out” dialogue with Zelenskyy, however underlined that it should align with Ukraine’s constitutional framework.
“I’ve already mentioned that I’ve by no means dominated out such a gathering, however whether or not this may be significant in accordance with the Ukrainian structure… It’s attainable; I by no means rule this out. If the assembly is well-prepared and results in a constructive potential end result, it’s attainable. And by the best way, Donald (Trump) requested me if it’s attainable to have such a gathering, and I mentioned that it’s. In any case, if Zelenskyy is prepared, he can come to Moscow. That is fairly attainable,” he said.
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NATO membership stays crimson line
Putin additionally restated his opposition to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, calling it a direct risk to Russia’s nationwide safety, although he expressed little objection to Kyiv pursuing European Union membership.
“We at all times opposed the thought of Ukraine turning into a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, however we by no means doubted its proper to interact in its financial actions in any method it likes, and that features EU membership,” he said.
Ukraine pushes for impartial venues
Following Putin’s remarks, Ukraine’s International Minister Andrii Sybiha criticised the Russian chief, highlighting that at the least seven international locations had already supplied to host talks, making Moscow’s proposal “knowingly unacceptable.”
“Proper now, at the least seven international locations are able to host a gathering between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to carry an finish to the struggle. Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Turkiye, and three Gulf states. These are critical proposals, and President Zelenskyy is prepared for such a gathering at any time limit. But, Putin continues to fiddle with everybody by making knowingly unacceptable proposals. Solely elevated strain can pressure Russia to lastly get critical in regards to the peace course of,” Sybiha mentioned in a publish on X.
(With inputs from ANI)