Vladimir Putin has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Moscow for direct peace talks, claiming Russia would guarantee his safety if he agreed to travel.
The Russian leader made the remarks during an economic forum in Vladivostok, where he shifted focus to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“The best place for talks is Moscow,” Putin told delegates, reiterating Russia’s long-standing position that negotiations should take place on its soil.
Moscow has previously issued similar calls for Kyiv to send its leader to the Russian capital for discussions, but Ukraine has consistently rejected the proposal.
Ukrainian officials and Western allies have argued that such talks would lack neutrality and credibility, given Russia’s role as the aggressor in the conflict.
The Kremlin has insisted that it is open to dialogue but has continued military operations across multiple Ukrainian regions.
Kyiv has repeatedly said it will not hold peace talks until Russian forces withdraw from occupied territories, including Crimea and areas seized since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Putin’s latest comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by international mediators to explore potential frameworks for a settlement. However, Western governments have cautioned that Russia’s calls for talks are often coupled with escalations on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s allies have also warned that any negotiation hosted in Moscow would place Zelenskyy in a position of vulnerability and undermine prospects for a balanced agreement.
The Kremlin has not offered further details on what conditions or guarantees might accompany its invitation.
