
PUTIN TELLS ZELENSKY: COME TO MOSCOW FOR DIRECT TALKS AS UKRAINE PEACE DIPLOMACY INTENSIFIES
The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin is prepared to receive Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow for direct negotiations and would guarantee the Ukrainian president’s safety. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov made the statement after Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a roughly 90-minute call with Putin as European leaders sought to influence renewed peace diplomacy. However, no Putin–Zelensky summit has been agreed, and there is no confirmed indication that Ukraine has accepted Moscow as a venue. Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators are separately preparing for another round of talks, with Abu Dhabi under consideration.