On September 13, Mr. Rodion Miroshnik, mobile Ambassador of the Russian Foreign Ministry, affirmed that Moscow had provided the Ukrainian leader with "the highest level of security guarantees". If Mr Zelensky hesitates, it is not for safety concerns but for fear of signing a deal that is not in Kiev's interest if the direct meeting takes place, he said.
Earlier, after his visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly announced an invitation to Zelensky to Moscow for dialogue. This invitation is considered a rare move, because since the conflict broke out in 2022, the two sides have never held any head-to-head meetings.
However, Kiev quickly rejected it. At the press conference, Mr. Zelensky said that Russia may be looking for a "delay" and "set conditions" instead of being serious about finding a solution. Ukraine stressed that any negotiation plan is only feasible if there are clear security guarantees from third parties and preferably a ceasefire.
Ukraine also said that if it is truly serious, Russia needs to prove goodwill by specific actions on the battlefield, such as reducing the escalation of UAV and missile attacks on cities. Meanwhile, Moscow maintained the airstrike pace and accused Ukraine of using UAVs to attack oil facilities in Russian territory.
The call for dialogue comes amid increased international pressure forcing both sides to seek political solutions. Many experts believe that Mr. Putin's invitation is both a show of goodwill at the diplomatic table and a test for Ukraine. If Kiev refuses, Moscow could accuse Ukraine of being unprepared for peace.
However, analysts also pointed out that, even if Mr. Zelensky accepted to go to Moscow, reaching a peace agreement would be extremely difficult. Basic disagreements about territory, withdrawal conditions and Ukraine's future in NATO remain intact.
While the Russia-Ukraine conflict has not cooled down, Russia's promise of "absolutely ensuring safety" seems difficult to convince Ukraine. Instead, Kiev continues to call for military support from the West and stressed that only one international sponsorship deal is capable of ensuring the safety of any meeting between the two leaders.
