Zelensky Rejects Putin’s Call for Ukraine Peace Talks in Moscow

06 September 2025, 5:02 AM

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مفاوضات السلام بين روسيا وأوكرانيا - Ukraine Peace Talks — The Presidential Office of Ukraine, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to hold Ukraine peace talks in Moscow, stressing that meaningful negotiations cannot happen while Russian forces continue their assaults on Ukrainian cities.

Zelensky’s Position on Peace Talks

Speaking during an interview with ABC News at a missile-struck factory in western Ukraine, Zelensky said any peace negotiations must take place in Kyiv. He dismissed Putin’s invitation as a political ploy designed to stall and manipulate international opinion, particularly in the United States.

Putin’s Offer and Security Guarantees

Meanwhile, Putin, addressing an economic forum, reiterated his readiness to provide full security guarantees for Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation if they agreed to travel to Moscow. The Russian leader framed the offer as a gesture of goodwill to accelerate dialogue.

A Political Standoff

Despite these statements, Zelensky emphasized his determination to pursue genuine peace but only under conditions that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. The standoff highlights the ongoing complexities of achieving Ukraine peace talks that could bring an end to more than two years of war.