Ukraine Proposes Direct Leader Summit, Excluding Moscow as Venue
According to a report from the Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine on November 10, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, made a significant statement on the 9th. Melnyk indicated that Ukraine is closely monitoring the progress of the Russia-U.S.-Ukraine trilateral talks and anticipates substantive outcomes from these discussions.
Critical Decisions Hinge on Face-to-Face Leader Dialogue
Melnyk clearly stated that major decisions concerning Ukraine's future and security architecture cannot be fully resolved solely through multilateral frameworks or diplomatic channels. He emphasized that definitive steps must ultimately be decided through direct, in-person meetings between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This position underscores the importance Ukraine places on the highest level of dialogue. Melnyk stressed, "Many fundamental issues require the two leaders to sit down and look each other in the eye."
Zelenskyy's Conditions for a Meeting
Regarding the venue, the Ukrainian side has set one clear precondition. Melnyk revealed that President Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to meet with President Putin, but the location cannot be the Russian capital, Moscow.
Ukraine's stance is open: the historic talks could be held in any city or location in the world except Moscow. This arrangement considers both diplomatic parity and the current political realities of the situation.
No further details regarding a potential timeline or specific alternative locations have been announced by either side. The international community is widely watching to see if this proposal for a high-level meeting will receive a positive response from Russia and how it might influence ongoing multilateral diplomatic efforts.