Zelenskyy Dismisses Putin’s Moscow Invitation For Peace Talks As Delay Tactic

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 06:08 IST

Putin extended the invitation during his visit to China, where he attended the SCO summit and the China Victory Day military parade.

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Putin’s willingness to mention a meeting could be seen as a positive signal (IMAGE: AFP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to meet in Moscow, calling it a manoeuver to avoid meaningful dialogue. Speaking at a press conference in France on Thursday following the Coalition of the Willing summit, Zelenskyy questioned the sincerity of the offer.

When asked about Putin’s invitation, Zelenskyy said, “Our American partners have informed us that Putin has invited me to Moscow. I believe that if you want to prevent the meeting from taking place, you should invite me to Moscow.” He suggested that the offer was more of a diplomatic delay than a genuine effort to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Putin’s willingness to mention a meeting could be seen as a positive signal. However, he emphasised that there is still no clear indication that Russia is serious about ending the war. “A meeting is necessary. It’s not about desire, it’s about necessity. We’ve supported both a trilateral and a bilateral meeting in any format. I believe that Russia is doing everything it can to delay it,” he stated.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed Zelenskyy’s concerns, labelling Putin’s offer to meet in Moscow as “unacceptable.”

Putin extended the invitation during his visit to China, where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and the China Victory Day military parade. “If Zelenskyy wants, if he is ready, let him come to Moscow, we will meet,” Putin said during the visit.

Despite ongoing diplomatic discussions, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues without a resolution. Earlier this year, during a high-level meeting at the White House attended by US President Donald Trump, EU leaders, and President Zelenskyy, it was indicated that Putin had agreed to a meeting with Zelenskyy within two weeks. However, that meeting has not materialised, and with the September 1 deadline now passed, several EU leaders have publicly questioned Putin’s willingness to pursue peace.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, 26 nations announced their agreement to send troops to Ukraine in a post-war capacity, aiming to assist President Zelenskyy in maintaining security. The commitment came during the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, after which leaders held a call with President Trump.

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