Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to visit Moscow to negotiate a diplomatic settlement.
He first touched on this proposal in an interview with Martha Radatz, ABC News’ chief global affairs correspondent, for “This Week”.
“He (Putin) can come to Kyiv,” Zelensky said. I can’t go to Moscow and my country is being bombed daily. I can’t go to this terrorist’s capital.”
“Putin understands this,” she told Radatz.
Zelensky and Radatz toured and sat at the site of an American factory in western Ukraine, which was the target of a recent Russian missile attack.
The Ukrainian president has repeatedly stressed that Putin is not seeking to meet him as he continues the war in Ukraine.
He said Putin’s offer was aimed at “postponing the meeting,” stressing that he was prepared to meet in any way.
Zelensky explained that Putin is “playing games with the United States.”
He added: “If someone does not want to meet during the war, he can of course suggest something that cannot be accepted by me or others”.
Earlier, during the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum on Friday, President Putin confirmed his readiness to meet Zelensky at the highest level.
“If the Ukrainian leadership is serious about negotiating, let them come to Moscow, and we will guarantee them 100 percent security,” he said.
Putin stressed that Russia is ready to provide full security guarantees to both Zelensky and members of the Ukrainian delegation if they decide to come to the Russian capital.
