Trump’s Push for a Moscow Meeting and Kyiv’s Denial

During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump raised the idea that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to sources close to the Ukrainian leader, the suggestion “upset” Zelensky, who replied that he would go “on a missile” and added an expletive. The White House did not comment.

Trump asked Zelenskyy to meet with Putin in Moscow for peace talks - media The OP says that Trump did not offer Zelenskyy a trip to moscow The Straits TimesKyiv IndependentKyiv Denies Report Trump Asked Zelensky to Meet Putin in Moscow

The United States has been urging a restart of peace negotiations, including proposals for a limited cease-fire on energy infrastructure. In July 2026, Trump announced that the United States would grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, though production is not expected for at least a year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a formal invitation for Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December 2026, a move that drew criticism from European officials. Both the United States and Ukraine have floated the idea of a three-way technical dialogue involving the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue.

The Hill

• Ukrainian administration: Adviser Dmytro Lytvyn told reporters that the report of Trump urging a Moscow visit was “false information.” He emphasized that discussions focused on a trilateral technical format rather than a direct Zelensky-Putin meeting.

Kyiv IndependentThe OP says that Trump did not offer Zelenskyy a trip to moscow Trump asked Zelenskyy to meet with Putin in Moscow for peace talks - media Kyiv Denies Report Trump Asked Zelensky to Meet Putin in Moscow The Straits Times

• Ukrainian president: Zelensky said the American side had proposed a technical-level three-way meeting and that Kyiv was awaiting a concrete date from Washington.

Kyiv Independent

• U.S.: Rubio reiterated the G20 invitation, describing it as an opportunity for Putin to engage with other world leaders.

The Hill

• Russian officials: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Zelensky could travel to Moscow with security guarantees, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Moscow would not halt its military operation.

Kyiv Independent

• Report of a Moscow proposal: Bloomberg-cited sources said Trump urged Zelensky to travel to Moscow, a claim that Zelensky’s office denied.

Kyiv IndependentKyiv Denies Report Trump Asked Zelensky to Meet Putin in Moscow The OP says that Trump did not offer Zelenskyy a trip to moscow Trump asked Zelenskyy to meet with Putin in Moscow for peace talks - media The Straits Times

• Denial of the proposal: Both the Kyiv presidential office and adviser Lytvyn labeled the Bloomberg report as false, stating that Trump discussed a trilateral technical format instead of a direct meeting.

Kyiv Denies Report Trump Asked Zelensky to Meet Putin in Moscow

• Unclear scheduling: Zelensky indicated that technical negotiations might occur in the United Arab Emirates, but no date has been set.

Kyiv Independent

• “The American side has proposed ... meeting at a technical level in a three-way format,” — Volodymyr Zelensky

Kyiv Independent

• “We’ve invited President Putin to the G20,” — Marco Rubio

The Hill

• “He’ll meet. He’s willing to meet. He wants to see the war end,” — Donald Trump

WBFF - Baltimore News

• Scheduled trilateral talks: Zelensky said technical peace negotiations could be held in the United Arab Emirates, though a specific date has not been proposed.

Kyiv Independent

• G20 summit: The invitation to Putin for the December 2026 G20 summit in Miami remains pending, with the United States awaiting a response.

The Hill

• U.S. policy on diesel exports: Reports indicate that some Republican lawmakers are pushing to ban U.S. diesel exports, a proposal supported by Trump amid rising global fuel prices.

The Straits Times