Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the most suitable place for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin could be a neutral European country, such as Switzerland or Austria. He announced this during a conversation with journalists on August 20, UNIAN reports, BTA reports.
„We think it is fair, and the Europeans emphasized this, for the meeting to be in neutral Europe, because there is a war in Ukraine and on the European continent. I said that we agree. Switzerland, Austria, we agree“, Zelensky confirmed.
The president added that he had nothing against meeting with Putin in Turkey, stressing that the country was part of Europe and a member of NATO.
As for Budapest, Zelensky noted that “it won't be easy“, since Hungary has been against supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. He categorically ruled out the possibility of a bilateral meeting in Moscow.
We recall that on August 18, after talks between Zelensky, European leaders and Donald Trump at the White House, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Putin was ready to meet with the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks. The White House later confirmed this.
According to Politico, the US prefers the meeting between Putin and Zelensky to be held in Budapest, while Putin has suggested that it be held in Russia. The talks could take place until the end of August.