Vladivostok: Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected calls for a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at a negotiating venue abroad. Putin stated that if Zelensky wants to meet with him but demands that he travel somewhere for the meeting, it is asking too much. He made these remarks at the economic forum in Vladivostok, emphasizing that “the best place for this [for a meeting] is the capital of the Russian Federation, the heroic city of Moscow.”
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Zelensky had previously rejected plans for a Moscow meeting. Ukrainian sources indicate that there are seven countries willing to host a summit. However, Putin remains firm on Moscow as the venue for negotiations, a stance he reiterated during his visit to China earlier this week. He assured that the safety of the guests would be guaranteed 100 percent.
Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has reported foiling several assassination plots against President Zelensky since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. Talks held in Moscow would strengthen the Kremlin’s negotiating position, as it perceives itself to have an advantage on the front lines.
Putin has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of talks with Zelensky, arguing that the Ukrainian president no longer has the legal authority to sign agreements. While Zelensky’s term officially expired last year, he continues to lead the country under martial law, which suspends elections for the duration of the war and automatically extends the president’s mandate.
In contrast, Putin has remained in power since 2012, supported by constitutional changes that have allowed him to extend his term limits.