Zelenskyy proposes meeting Putin in Türkiye, Kremlin says he is welcome in Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has floated the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Türkiye, asking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to use his channels to broker the summit.

Zelenskyy, speaking in a media interview on Saturday, said delegations and technical working groups lack the authority to settle some outstanding issues, according to China Media Group (CMG).

He argued that only the two heads of state hold the power to make binding decisions, and he backed Türkiye as the venue, citing Erdogan's established lines of communication with Putin, CMG reported.

The Ukrainian president stressed that he wants to negotiate directly with Putin, as the Russian leader holds final say on the relevant matters.

In Moscow, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Saturday that Putin has never refused to speak with Zelenskyy, according to TASS News Agency.

If Zelenskyy wants to speak with the Russian leader in person, he is welcome to visit Moscow, Ushakov said. "He is sending signals through various sources. If he really wants to negotiate, he is free to come [to Moscow]."

Erdogan on Saturday held talks with the visiting Ukrainian president in Istanbul.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan warned that the Ukraine conflict is spilling over into the Black Sea, and urged all sides to act responsibly, noting that "escalating tensions and targeting civilian vessels will not benefit anyone," according to Xinhua News Agency.

"A just peace has no losers," said Erdogan, recalling that early peace negotiations hosted by Türkiye between Moscow and Kyiv proved diplomacy could still yield tangible results.

More than four years after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, diplomatic efforts appear to be regaining traction.

The Kremlin said last week that trilateral negotiations among Russia, Ukraine and the United States will resume in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, in early November, focusing on security matters following a peace deal.

US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine were believed to have been effectively on hold following joint US-Israeli military action against Iran in late February.