New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said he was ready to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow for security talks, even as Russian forces continued heavy bombardment across Ukraine. The surprise remarks, carried by Russian state media Tass, came during Putin’s visit to Beijing for a military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif.
“If Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting, let him come to Moscow,” Putin said, adding that he had “never refused” such talks. He insisted any meeting must be “well-prepared” and capable of delivering results. At the same time, he accused Zelenskyy of being “afraid” to meet him directly.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha quickly rejected the Moscow invitation, calling it a “knowingly unacceptable proposal.” He noted that seven nations—including Austria, Vatican City, Switzerland, Turkey, and three Gulf states—have already offered to host peace talks. “President Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting at any time, but only increased pressure can make Russia serious about peace,” Sybiha said.
Security experts also raised red flags. Former CIA Moscow Station Chief Dan Hoffman told Fox News Digital there was “no way” Zelenskyy should travel to Moscow, warning that Putin was merely trying to appear open to negotiations while continuing to bomb Ukraine.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he will speak with Zelenskyy on Thursday and plans to talk with Putin “over the next few days.” The Oval Office comments came as Trump’s two-week deadline for the Kremlin to engage Zelenskyy expired.
“I’ll know pretty much what we’re going to be doing,” Trump told reporters, hinting at possible consequences if no credible talks materialize. Still, his stance on Putin remains ambiguous, with critics warning the Russian leader is using offers of dialogue to buy time and avoid harsher sanctions.
For now, the war grinds on. Russian strikes continued in Kyiv this week, with buildings set ablaze and casualties mounting. European leaders remain firmly behind Zelenskyy, while Trump walks a tightrope—balancing pressure on Moscow with an openness to dialogue.
Whether Putin’s invitation is a genuine step toward peace or a diplomatic maneuver to weaken Ukraine’s alliances remains unclear. What is certain is that Zelenskyy is unlikely to risk a trip to Moscow, leaving the battlefield and third-party nations as the only realistic venues for talks.