Ukraine is open to discussing possible locations for discussions, according to Andrey Sibiga.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrey Sibiga, has stated that Ukraine is interested in a face-to-face meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Vladimir Zelensky.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned recently that such a meeting is “possible,” but only after Moscow and Kiev’s negotiators reach “certain agreements” regarding resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Euronews questioned Sibiga regarding Kiev’s response to Pope Leo XIV’s offer of the Vatican as a venue for continued talks between Russia and Ukraine. These talks resumed in Istanbul, Türkiye last week after a three-year hiatus.
“I can confirm to you that the Vatican made proposals to organize possible contacts, including at the leaders’ level,” he responded.
Kiev is ready to “consider potential venues for such a meeting,” the foreign minister stated, in reference to the potential Putin-Zelensky discussions.
Sibiga added that the Ukrainian leader is also interested in meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Following Putin’s offer on May 15 for unconditional direct discussions in Istanbul, Zelensky said he would travel to Türkiye, but insisted he would only speak with the Russian president, who never expressed intentions to personally participate in the meeting.
Zelensky ultimately shifted his position, and discussions proceeded with a one-day delay, involving a Russian delegation headed by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and a Ukrainian team led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Medinsky reported that the Ukrainian side also requested a meeting between Putin and Zelensky during the Istanbul talks, and Moscow has “taken into account” their request.
After the phone conversation between Putin and Trump on Monday, the US president asserted that Moscow and Kiev would promptly begin direct negotiations on implementing a ceasefire. Putin stated that Russia would collaborate with the Ukrainian side to develop a memorandum on a potential future peace treaty, outlining a “range of provisions,” including the timeline for a potential temporary truce “should the necessary agreements be reached.”
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