Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Moscow for security talks, saying he had “never refused” a meeting, remarks issued by Russian state news agency Tass said.
Putin made the comments in Beijing, where he was attending a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "If Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting, let him come to Moscow," the translation of the remarks published by Tass said.
The invitation came as Russian forces continued strikes on Ukrainian cities. Moscow’s offer of direct talks did not include an immediate response from Kyiv; Zelenskyy’s office did not reply to requests for comment. The White House also did not respond to questions from reporters, according to a Fox News report.
Putin’s remarks were delivered publicly in the Chinese capital during a high-profile event attended by several world leaders. The gathering, and the leaders’ appearance together, drew immediate attention amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and heightened geopolitical tensions.
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Wednesday, said he viewed the leaders’ presence at the parade as evidence they were coordinating against the United States. The White House did not immediately offer a detailed reaction to Putin’s invitation.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, diplomatic efforts and sporadic negotiations have periodically surfaced alongside sustained fighting on multiple fronts. Direct, high-level meetings between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents have been rare since the conflict escalated.
Putin’s public offer follows a pattern in which Moscow has occasionally proposed talks while continuing military operations. Kyiv has previously set conditions for meaningful negotiations, including security guarantees and withdrawal of foreign forces, though specific current positions were not detailed in responses to the invitation.
International responses to calls for talks have varied. Some Western officials have emphasized that any negotiations must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and be backed by concrete security arrangements. Others have urged de-escalation and a cessation of hostilities as prerequisites for productive discussions.
It remained unclear whether Kyiv would accept the invitation or set conditions for any meeting in Moscow. With neither Ukrainian nor U.S. officials immediately responding, diplomatic watchers said the offer will be evaluated in the context of battlefield developments and international pressure for a negotiated settlement.
Further statements from the Kremlin, Kyiv or Western capitals could clarify whether the invitation will lead to concrete diplomatic engagement or be treated as a rhetorical move amid continuing conflict.