Ukraine, Western countries and Turkey have proposed to Russia that a bilateral meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents be held in Kazakhstan. The Ukrainian leader spoke about this in an interview with Fox News, News.bg reports.
“We have proposed a meeting in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, in European neutral countries such as Austria and Switzerland. We said: Even if you want to meet somewhere like Kazakhstan, we are ready. That's all“, Zelensky said.
In mid-August, US President Donald Trump, after a meeting with Putin in Alaska and a summit with Zelensky and European leaders in Washington, announced preparations for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine.
The AFP agency reported that Putin had proposed that the meeting be held in Moscow, but Zelensky refused. On September 3, the Russian president publicly announced his proposal:
"Donald asked me, if possible, to hold such a meeting. If Zelensky is ready to come to Moscow, such a meeting will take place", Putin said.
However, the Russian leader specified that it remains to be seen whether such a meeting is worthwhile.
Zelensky replied that not only Moscow is a hero city of World War II, but also Kiev. Therefore, the Ukrainian capital could also host such a meeting.
Putin described calls for it to be held elsewhere as "excessive demands".