Full Breakdown
Zelensky Proposes Direct Talks with Putin at G20, Kremlin Insists on Moscow
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Core Event: Proposal and Rejection
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would travel to the Group of 20 summit in Miami and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin if the Russian leader also attends. The Kremlin responded that any bilateral meeting must take place in Moscow and that a decision on Putin’s possible trip to Miami “has not even been discussed.”
Background & Context
The war that began in early 2022 has entered its fifth year, with formal trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia suspended since February 2026 after sessions in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. The last face-to-face encounter between Zelenskyy and Putin occurred in December 2019 during the Normandy Four negotiations in Paris. Recent diplomatic activity includes U.S. envoys visiting Kyiv and Moscow and a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month.
Official Statements & Responses
- Foreign-policy aide Yury Ushakov told Russian media that the possibility of Putin attending the Miami summit “has not even been discussed” and that preparations for the summit are proceeding at an “expert level.”
- Russian officials also noted that contacts with the United States continue with a “friendly and constructive attitude,” but no commitment has been made regarding Putin’s attendance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Yes, of course. We must come. We must meet, talk, and make decisions,” — Volodymyr Zelensky, proposal by president
- “We don't know yet whether we'll be going to Miami,” — Dmitry Peskov, kremlin spokesman
Potential Diplomatic Avenues
Kremlin spokesman Peskov earlier suggested that a separate trilateral meeting involving the United States, Russia and China could be arranged on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in Shenzhen, scheduled for November 2026. This proposal indicates that Moscow remains open to multilateral formats while maintaining its stance on the venue for direct Ukraine-Russia talks.
What’s Next
The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will travel to the December G20 summit, and Russian officials say the issue “has not even been discussed.” Until a decision is announced, Zelenskyy’s offer remains conditional on an invitation that includes Putin’s presence. Both sides continue diplomatic outreach, but the venue for any potential bilateral meeting remains a point of contention.