Putin invites Zelenskyy to a meeting in Moscow for security talks as he bombs Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday claimed he “never refused” a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and invited him to come to Moscow, according to Russian state-owned news outlet Tass.

“If Zelenskyy is ready for a meeting, let him come to Moscow,” Putin said, according to a translation of the remarks issued from China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of World War II.

From left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrive at a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Yeah, there will be.”

It is unclear if Trump will believe Putin is extending a good-faith offer to meet with Zelenskyy or see it as a false attempt at statesmanship as he continues to heavily attack Ukraine.