Zelenskyy ready to meet Putin for peace talks outside Russia, Belarus

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war, but insisted that any talks must take place outside Russia and Belarus.

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy stressed that he would do anything to bring about peace.

“I can invite Putin to Kyiv. For what? I don’t want to play games with a question, how to end the war with peace negotiation. For us, it is real. And for us, it is a big problem, this war. A big danger for the Europe, for all the world, I’m sure. But we are in. That’s why we want to end this and that’s why we need the pressure,” he said.

Zelenskyy added, “I am not playing games with Putin. I am ready to meet, and I’m ready to speak.”

When asked if the meeting could take place on neutral ground, Zelenskyy clarified that while neutrality is not strictly necessary, the venue must be outside Russia and Belarus, noting that Belarus is effectively a “passive aggressor” in the conflict.

“Even not neutral, but not Russian and not Belarus, because they are allies during this war. Belarus is passive aggressor. Really, it is true. Because they attacked us from the territory of Belarus,” he said.

The comments come after repeated statements from the Kremlin that any potential meeting between the two leaders could only occur in Moscow. 

By Sabina Mammadli