Zelenskyy names potential venues for meeting with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that he is willing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Austria, Switzerland or Turkey to discuss a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict, but not in Hungary or Russia, a DW correspondent reports.

“We believe it is fair, and Europeans have pointed out, that the meeting should take place in neutral Europe, because the war is in Europe. I said that we agree. We are ready to meet in Switzerland, Austria, or Turkey. For us, Turkey is a NATO country and part of Europe. And we have no objection,” Zelenskyy noted, stressing that a meeting in Moscow is out of the question.

Regarding Budapest as a potential venue, Zelensky said, “I don’t think that is easy today. It’s difficult because of the unity among European countries in supporting Ukraine during this war. Let’s be honest—Budapest did not support us. I’m not saying that Orbán’s policy was against Ukraine, but it was against supporting Ukraine.” He also noted that Hungary opposes Ukraine’s membership in the EU.