Putin invites Zelenskyy to Moscow for security talks as strikes continue in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday reportedlly claimed he has never refused to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, inviting him to Moscow for security talks, according to Russian state-owned outlet Tass.

“If Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting, let him come to Moscow,” Putin said while in China, where he attended a military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marking the 80th anniversary of World War II.

The remarks come as Russian forces continue to bomb Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, US  President Donald Trump told reporters that he would be speaking with Putin very shortly, noting that the two-week deadline he had set last month for a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy had now expired.

Responding to Putin’s comments, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha dismissed the Moscow invitation as a “knowingly unacceptable proposal.” He said seven countries Austria, Vatican City, Switzerland, Turkey, and three Gulf states had already expressed readiness to host peace talks.

“These are serious proposals, and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any time,” Sybiha said. “Yet, Putin continues to mess around. Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about the peace process.”