In a fresh development in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced on Wednesday that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in any of the seven countries that have already expressed readiness to host peace negotiations.
According to Sybiha, Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland, and three Gulf nations have offered to mediate by providing a neutral venue for dialogue.
He stressed that Zelenskyy is prepared for such a meeting “at any point in time” if it could open the door to ending the devastating war.
Sybiha, however, criticized Moscow’s approach, accusing Putin of “messing around with everyone” by deliberately making unrealistic and unacceptable proposals that undermine serious progress toward peace.
Putin Counters: “Zelenskyy Can Come to Moscow”
The Ukrainian minister’s remarks came in response to Putin’s latest statement during his visit to China. While Putin expressed that he sees a “light at the end of the tunnel” in efforts to resolve the conflict, he cast doubt on the usefulness of talks, saying that he was prepared to host Zelenskyy in Moscow if the Ukrainian leader agreed to come.
Putin added, however, that Zelenskyy’s presidential term had long expired and claimed that under Ukraine’s constitution, he had no legitimate mandate to extend his powers.
This remark was widely seen as Moscow’s attempt to delegitimize the Ukrainian leader on the global stage.
The Russian president maintained that “if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution,” but gave no clarity on what such a solution would look like.
Prospects of a Zelenskyy-Putin Meeting
Despite Moscow’s evasive stance, Zelenskyy has repeatedly signaled his willingness to sit across the table from Putin. The idea of a Zelenskyy-Putin summit has gained traction internationally, with backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who views such a dialogue as crucial to exploring terms for a possible ceasefire or peace deal.
Yet so far, the Russian side has stopped short of formally committing to bilateral or trilateral negotiations.
Trump’s Role and Upcoming Talks with Zelenskyy
Adding a new layer to the unfolding situation, U.S. President Trump revealed on Wednesday that he plans to hold direct talks with Zelenskyy “in the coming days.”
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump stated: I’m going to be speaking with him very shortly, and I’ll have a clearer picture of what we’re going to do.
We’ve already taken strong action, as you know, and in other ways as well. I’ll be talking to him in the coming days, and we’ll see what comes out of it.”
According to a White House official, the conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy is expected to take place on Thursday, marking a potentially significant step in shaping the U.S. role in the ongoing war diplomacy.
The Road Ahead
While Zelenskyy remains committed to international mediation and dialogue, Putin’s conditional offers and doubts over legitimacy complicate the prospects for breakthrough negotiations.
With Trump now preparing to weigh in directly, the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether meaningful talks can take shape or whether the war will continue to grind on with no resolution in sight.
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