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The Kremlin has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal to potentially meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in a familiar manner — by denying it and shifting responsibility.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Moscow had not received any official invitation for such a meeting.
“Of course, there was none [no invitation]. And as you know, there are no official channels between Moscow and Kyiv,” he said.
At the same time, Peskov reiterated the Kremlin’s position that Zelensky could “come to Moscow” if he wants talks with Putin, and should be prepared for a “serious and responsible discussion.”
The statement reflects Moscow’s consistent messaging, as it continues to reject neutral-format meetings and insists on its own terms for any negotiations.
Earlier, Zelensky said he had signaled readiness for a meeting with Putin through the United States and European partners during the G7 summit. According to Ukrainian officials, the proposal was conveyed through multiple channels, but no clear response was received from Moscow.
It was also reported that Zelensky discussed a possible meeting format with US President Donald Trump, involving international participation and conditions designed to make refusal politically difficult. The Kremlin, however, has not publicly confirmed or engaged with these proposals.
