Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in any global location except Moscow, Ukrainian Permanent Representative to the UN Andriy Melnyk announced on November 9.
Melnyk delivered the statement during a UN Security Council session addressing potential paths to end the war. Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi could advance a settlement, but the diplomat said that achieving a major political breakthrough is difficult without a high-level summit.
Zelenskyy is ready to meet with the Russian leader at the earliest opportunity, according to Melnyk.
“That is why the Ukrainian president is ready to meet with Putin at the first opportunity – whether it is Florida in December, during the G20 summit, or in any other place in the world. If necessary, even in Antarctica. Anywhere, just not in Moscow,” Melnyk told Unian.net.
Ukraine remains committed to pursuing peace despite ongoing Russian aggression, Melnyk stated during the UN session. At the same time, the diplomat pointed out that Moscow still hopes to break the will of Ukrainians and force the country to capitulate.
❗️The President of Ukraine is ready to meet Putin anywhere in the world, even in Antarctica or at the G20 summit in Florida, but not in Moscow, Andriy Melnyk stated at the UN on November 9. At the same time, he emphasized that Putin’s hopes of breaking Ukraine’s will and forcing… pic.twitter.com/XXp4q0KX1f
Zelenskyy previously dismissed Russian proposals for a personal meeting between the two leaders in Moscow as destructive.
“We are not inviting Putin to Kyiv. First of all, they came to us uninvited in 2022. But there is no point in inviting Putin to Kyiv because they won’t come anyway. Inviting them just so they won’t come is destructive,” the Ukrainian president stated previously.
Trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi offer one potential diplomatic channel.
The UN Security Council session highlighted the ongoing stalemate over where and how face-to-face diplomacy might resume.
Zelenskyy is willing to meet Putin in any location worldwide, including Florida, a G20 summit, or Antarctica, but refuses to travel to Moscow.
🇺🇦 Zelensky is ready to meet with Putin anywhere, but not in Moscow, – Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Andriy Melnyk The meeting is possible, for example, in Florida during the December G20 summit or even in Antarctica. Kremlin leader still hopes to force Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/MySdtxsUTV
Ukrainian officials consider proposals to meet in Moscow destructive, noting that Russian forces invaded Ukraine uninvited in 2022 and that inviting them to Kyiv or traveling to Moscow serves no practical diplomatic purpose.
Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi have been discussed as a potential step toward a settlement.
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