Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Moscow. Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said it was “not about surrender” but rather about a conversation. He said there was “light at the end of the tunnel” in the war against Ukraine, although he declined to give a timeline for the end of hostilities.
In an interview with Russian media, Peskov also touched on the topic of relations between the US and Russia. He admitted that “the damage done is too serious” and that “time is needed” to overcome the state of de facto freeze. At the same time, the Kremlin representative emphasized that communication channels between the two countries' intelligence services remain open, and that conversations between the US and Russian presidents are always difficult.
There was also mention of Donald Trump. Peskov noted that Putin “highly appreciates the efforts” of the American president and the constructive relationship with him. At the same time, he stressed that Russia “will do everything necessary” to ensure its own security.
Other Kremlin statements
Earlier, Russia claimed that Putin had allegedly never refused a meeting with Zelensky, provided it was “thoroughly prepared” and had possible “positive results.” The dictator himself also insisted that Ukraine should resolve any territorial issues through a referendum after martial law is lifted.
The Ukrainian president reacted skeptically to the Kremlin's statements. According to Zelensky, the invitation to Moscow looks more like a signal of unwillingness to achieve peace.
“ If you want the meeting to not happen, you have to invite me to Moscow. That’s why I think that Russia has started talking about the meeting, which is already good. But so far we don’t see their desire to end the war ,” he said.
