Reports have emerged from local European media that Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Moscow as the venue for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a currency call with U.S. President Donald Trump on the 18th (local time). In response, President Zelensky is said to have immediately communicated his rejection.
On the 19th, Politico Europe reported, citing sources, that President Putin proposed to President Trump that a bilateral meeting with President Zelensky could be held in Russia. This currency call occurred while President Trump was meeting with President Zelensky and seven other European leaders at the White House.
However, a source told AFP that President Zelensky, upon hearing this news, responded with 'no.' Ukraine has long asserted that the Kremlin has attempted to assassinate President Zelensky several times. A source who relayed the situation to Politico also stated, 'Everyone immediately disregarded it, and it was clear that this proposal was not serious.'
Earlier, Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor who attended the White House meeting, reported that President Putin expressed his intention to meet with President Zelensky within two weeks. President Trump also noted, 'I have started coordinating a meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky,' suggesting that a face-to-face meeting would occur soon.
However, some point out that Russia still maintains a lukewarm attitude, and that President Putin's suggestion of Russia as the venue for the bilateral meeting is merely a stalling tactic. Gael Bessiere, the French ambassador to Ukraine, said on Radio France Internationale on the 20th, '(The framework for negotiations) has already been set, so there must be progress. If there is no progress and it is clear that Russia intends to stall, we will have no choice but to move to another stage, meaning returning to sanctions.'