Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday that he had proposed a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the upcoming G7 summit in France, aimed at ending the ongoing four-year conflict. However, the Russian leader showed no willingness to engage in dialogue.
Zelenskiy's Proposal at the G7
Speaking from a historic monastery in Kyiv that was damaged in an overnight Russian attack, Zelenskiy revealed that the United States had supported the idea of inviting Putin to the gathering, which is set to begin later on Monday in Evian-les-Bains. He emphasized that the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at the summit presented a valuable opportunity for collective discussions.
"We gave message that we are ready to meet with Putin during (the) G7, because Trump is there and Macron is there, so Europeans plus America. This is a good, I think, very good opportunity to meet all together," Zelenskiy told reporters in English.
He added that Europe and the United States were in agreement, but Russia once again demonstrated its unwillingness to engage in talks.
Ukraine's Direct Invitation to Russia
A Ukrainian official confirmed that Zelenskiy had informed the Americans and President Macron about the proposal for talks at the G7. Ukraine also delivered the invitation directly to Russian counterparts but received no clear response. Macron's office did not immediately comment on the matter.
Earlier this month, Zelenskiy had published an open letter to Putin, offering face-to-face talks and suggesting that the war was straining Russia's economy. In reply, Putin publicly stated that he saw no reason for a meeting and claimed that Ukraine's long-range drone attacks posed no economic threat.
Renewed Russian Attacks
At least 10 people were killed in Russia's overnight assault on Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv on Monday. Zelenskiy accused the Russian leader of acting "cynically" by launching the major attack just hours after speaking by phone with President Trump.
Zelenskiy noted that his priority at the G7 meeting would be securing more air defense systems to protect against Russian strikes. "We will have meeting with Europeans and also with President Trump; we will speak with him about how to push Putin to stop this war," he said.
