'Come to Kyiv': Zelenskyy turns down Putin's Moscow invitation; accuses Russian President of 'playing games'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Vladimir Putin’s invitation for talks in Moscow, saying he cannot visit the capital of a country launching daily attacks on Ukraine.

Instead, Zelenskyy suggested that the Russian leader come to Kyiv if he is “genuine” about holding discussions.

“He can come to Kyiv. If a person doesn’t want to meet during the war, of course, he can propose something acceptable to me or others. But I can’t go to Moscow when my country is under attack each day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist,” Zelenskyy told ABC News on Friday.

He accused Putin of using the invitation as a “political manoeuvre” to delay dialogue and of “playing games with the United States.”

"And he (Putin) understands it... He is doing it to postpone the meeting. He is playing games, and he is playing games with the United States," Zelenskyy said.

The comments come days after Putin expressed openness to a meeting, saying it could take place in Moscow if “well-prepared” and aimed at a “constructive outcome.” Speaking after a visit to China, the Russian president reiterated he had “never ruled out” such talks and even claimed US President Donald Trump had asked him about the possibility.

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Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, dismissed Putin’s proposal as “knowingly unacceptable,” pointing out that at least seven countries — including Austria, the Vatican, Switzerland, Turkiye and three Gulf states — had already offered to host such talks. “These are serious proposals, and President Zelenskyy is ready at any point. Yet Putin continues to mess around by making unacceptable offers. Only increased pressure can force Russia to take the peace process seriously,” Sybiha said.