Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has flatly rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation for peace talks in Moscow, escalating tensions and exposing deep divisions over how – and where – any future negotiations might take place. The latest exchange comes as the war grinds on with no clear end in sight, and as international leaders weigh new strategies for peace and security in the region.
Speaking with ABC News on September 6, 2025, Zelenskyy made his position crystal clear: “He can come to Kyiv. If a person doesn’t want to meet during the war, of course, he can propose something which is acceptable to me or the other. It’s understandable; I can’t go to Moscow when my country’s under missiles, under attack, each day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist.” According to NBC News, Zelenskyy went further, accusing Putin of using the invitation as a ploy to delay meaningful dialogue and to manipulate perceptions in the United States. “He is doing it to postpone the meeting. He is playing games, and he is playing games with the United States,” Zelenskyy said.
The pointed remarks landed just days after Putin had expressed a willingness to meet with Zelenskyy in Moscow, provided the meeting was “well-prepared and aimed at producing a constructive outcome.” During a press briefing after his four-day visit to China, the Russian president reiterated that he had “never ruled out” such a meeting, but stressed it must be in line with Ukraine’s constitutional framework. “If the meeting is well-prepared and leads to a positive potential outcome, it is possible. And by the way, Donald (Trump) asked me if it’s possible to have such a meeting, and I said that it is. After all, if Zelenskyy is ready, he can come to Moscow. This is quite possible,” Putin stated, as reported by multiple outlets.
Putin also used the occasion to restate Moscow’s firm opposition to Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, describing it as a direct threat to Russian national interests. However, he appeared less resistant to Ukraine’s ambitions to join the European Union. “We always opposed the idea of Ukraine becoming a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, but we never doubted its right to engage in its economic activities in any way it likes, and that includes EU membership,” he said.
The diplomatic back-and-forth has not gone unnoticed by other world leaders. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was quick to dismiss Putin’s invitation as “knowingly unacceptable,” pointing out that at least seven countries – including Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Turkiye, and three Gulf states – have offered to host peace talks. “These are serious proposals, and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any point in time. Yet, Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals. Only increased pressure can force Russia to finally get serious about the peace process,” Sybiha posted on X.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who once boasted he could end the Ukraine war on his first day back in office, has reportedly become more pessimistic about resolving the conflict. According to sources close to Trump, he has admitted that stopping the war has proven far more difficult than he anticipated, despite his previously warm relationship with Putin. Speaking at a White House dinner, Trump said, “The war that I thought would probably be the easiest was the most difficult: that of Russia and Ukraine. I thought it would be easiest because of the relationship with President Putin... It didn’t matter. It ended up being probably the most difficult.”
Trump’s recent actions have also drawn attention. On September 5, he signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the "Department of War," a move he described as “really about winning.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, now introduced as Secretary of War, echoed Trump’s sentiment, saying, “We’re going to go on the offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality.” The Pentagon, for its part, moved quickly to update signs and titles, though questions remain about the cost and necessity of the change.
As Washington debates its next moves, European leaders are pushing ahead with their own plans. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had agreed to provide military assistance to Ukraine on land, sea, and air. The idea of deploying a peacekeeping force – or “reassurance force” – has gained traction, but not without controversy. Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev lambasted such talks as “heresy” and “bull****,” while Putin warned that any foreign troops stationed in Ukraine before a peace agreement is signed would be considered “legitimate targets” for Russian forces. “If any troops appear there [in Ukraine], especially now while fighting is ongoing, we assume that they will be legitimate targets,” Putin said at an economic forum in Vladivostok, as reported by Reuters.
Amid all this, the United States is reportedly considering a Korea-style demilitarized zone between Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-controlled territory once the war ends. According to NBC News, the plan would avoid the involvement of American ground troops or NATO forces, instead proposing that the area be policed by troops from non-NATO nations such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh. Russia has previously rejected the idea of European or NATO involvement in any future peace settlement with Kyiv, suggesting that the path to peace will require creative – and perhaps unconventional – solutions.
On the ground, the war’s toll remains all too real. Zelenskyy recently visited the Flextronics factory in Mukachevo, a facility with American investment that was struck by Russian missiles last month. In a post on X, he thanked workers for their resilience and pledged government support to help the enterprise recover. “Unfortunately, Russian missiles and drones strike across the entire country. But I am very grateful to everyone working here. It is crucial for us that American business is present in Ukraine. We will do everything to help the enterprise recover as quickly as possible,” he wrote.
Elsewhere, the U.S. Department of Defense has informed European countries that military support under a program known as Section 333 will be cut to zero from the next fiscal year, raising concerns among key recipients such as Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. This development comes as the U.S. government weighs its future role in the region – and as allies and adversaries alike look for signs of American resolve.
In the midst of diplomatic maneuvering, military warnings, and shifting alliances, the prospect of peace in Ukraine remains elusive. Each side accuses the other of insincerity and game-playing, and the international community continues to search for a formula that could finally bring an end to the violence. For now, the war grinds on, with ordinary Ukrainians bearing the brunt of the conflict and the world watching closely for any sign of a breakthrough.
