Beijing — Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war, but insisted the negotiations must take place in Moscow.
Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit to China, Putin said he prefers a diplomatic solution. “Talks must be prepared seriously and should aim for real results,” he said.
Putin set three conditions for any negotiation: Ukraine must abandon its push to join NATO, stop what he described as the mistreatment of Russian-speaking communities in the east, and Zelensky must come to Moscow with a clear commitment to peace. He warned, “If dialogue fails, we may have to achieve our goals by military means.”
The Russian leader also praised former U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he had shown a genuine interest in ending the conflict. Putin cited their August 15 meeting in Alaska as an important step. After that meeting, Trump briefed Zelensky and European leaders, stressing that lasting peace — not just a ceasefire — was necessary.
Kyiv quickly rejected the idea. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said, “Moscow cannot be the venue for talks,” firmly dismissing Putin’s condition. The Kremlin also noted that no agenda has been agreed for negotiations, adding that “talks in name only would be meaningless.”
