Putin tells Stubb and Støre that Zelensky can come to Moscow for talks

In brief

• Yuri Ushakov said Putin told Finland's Alexander Stubb and Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre that Zelensky may come to Moscow for direct talks.
• Ushakov said Russia insists a leaders' meeting makes sense only after negotiators finish documents on a long-term settlement.
• Sergey Lavrov repeated on October 31 that Zelensky could come to Moscow and that Russia would guarantee his safety.
• Zelensky said in June that Ukraine proposed a G7-sidelines meeting with Putin and got no clear answer, and on October 21 backed US ceasefire proposals.

Kremlin repeats offer of Moscow meeting

According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin's aide, the Finnish and Norwegian leaders told Putin during a phone call that Zelensky wants to hold direct talks with him. (У Кремлі заявили, що якщо Зеленський хоче прямих переговорів із Путіним, то має приїхати до Москви – Espreso) (Ушаков: Путин напомнил о гарантиях Зеленскому в случае приезда в Москву – tvzvezda.ru) (Путин сказал Стуббу и Стёре, что Зеленский может приехать в Москву | Аргументы и Факты – aif.ru) Ushakov said Putin answered that Zelensky would be guaranteed all conditions, including security, if he came to Moscow.

Moscow's condition: a finished framework first

Russia's side also stressed, Ushakov said, that a meeting between the two leaders would only make sense after negotiators finish documents on a long-term settlement, which the leaders could then sign. He described negotiators reporting to the leaders and the leaders then signing.

Foreign minister repeats the position

On October 31 Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said at a news conference in Atlanta that Zelensky could come to Moscow if he wants to meet Putin, and that Russia would guarantee his safety, which he said could not be assured in Kyiv. (Лавров заявил, что Зеленский может приехать в Москву для переговоров – interfax.ru) Lavrov added that whoever requests a meeting should accept the other party's terms, which he called ordinary diplomatic practice.

Background from Kyiv

Earlier, Zelensky said in June that Ukraine had proposed a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, without receiving a clear answer from Moscow. On October 21 he said Ukraine supported all American proposals for a ceasefire and expected talks with Russia and the United States no later than early November.

The security guarantees and the condition that documents be finished first are stated by the Russian side and have no independent confirmation.

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