The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has informed the president of the United States, Donald Trump, that he is willing to receive the president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, in Moscowto address a possible solution to the conflict that has been going on for more than four years, according to publications Europa Press.
The offer came during a telephone conversation between Putin and Trump that, according to the Kremlin, lasted about 55 minutes and addressed both the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations and the international situation.
Putin: “If you want to meet with me, you should come to Moscow”
As explained by Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov, Putin told Trump that he is not opposed to a direct meeting with Zelensky, but believes that it should be the Ukrainian president who takes the initiative.
“If Volodymyr Zelensky begins to open himself again for a meeting with the Russian president, then he should go to Moscow because he is the one who requests the meeting”the head of the Kremlin would have noted.
The statement represents one of the most explicit messages from Moscow about a possible face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the start of the war.
Trump insists on an end to hostilities
During the conversation, Trump once again defended the need to end military operations and promised, according to the Russian version, to use his influence over European allies and kyiv to favor a negotiated solution.
According to Ushakov, the US president expressed his intention to convey this message to its Western partners during the next G7 summit.
Trump would also have expressed concern about the recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, which Moscow considers an additional obstacle to moving towards an agreement.
Russia warns of consequences on the battlefield
Putin used the conversation to warn that the military situation could deteriorate further for Ukraine if attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure continue.
According to the version released by the Kremlin, the Russian president stated that, if these actions stop, “Ukraine’s situation on the battlefield “.
This is a new example of the Russian strategy of linking any diplomatic advance to preconditions related to the evolution of the conflict on the ground.
Another element highlighted by Moscow is the upcoming visit to Russia by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. The Kremlin has not detailed the agenda of both representatives, although their arrival is interpreted as a sign that contacts between Washington and Moscow remain open despite the lack of definitive progress in the conflict.
