Russia Sends Invitation To Zelenskyy For Peace Talks In Moscow

Kyiv: The murmur of talks regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has once again intensified. On Thursday, Russia said it had sent an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Moscow for peace talks. This statement has come at a time when efforts to end the war on America's initiative seem to be moving forward with renewed vigor.

What did Russia say and what is the situation now?

According to the Kremlin, Moscow is ready to find a solution through direct negotiations. Russia says that face-to-face talks can lead to some progress in the frozen situation. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also made it clear that there has been no response from Ukraine on this proposal yet.

Has Zelensky rejected such invitations before?

Last year too, Russia had offered Zelensky to come to Moscow, which he rejected. At that time Zelensky had said that he could not go to the capital of a country that was carrying out missile attacks on his country every day. He had then also said that if talks were to be held, Russian President Vladimir Putin should come to Kiev.

Why is this initiative considered important at this time?

This development has come to light at a time when US-mediated peace efforts have gained momentum again. Recently talks were held between representatives of Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. Although no concrete agreement could be reached there, the coming of both the parties to the negotiating table is being considered an important sign in itself.

What were the signals from the Abu Dhabi talks?

American officials say that contacts between the two sides have increased and a top-level meeting may also be possible in future. It is being said that another round of talks may take place on Sunday, but differences still remain.

What is the biggest obstacle to the peace agreement?

The biggest dispute is regarding areas. Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw its troops from parts of the Donetsk region. At the same time, Ukraine has clearly said that it will not leave any area that Russia has not completely captured on the battlefield. Additionally, post-war security arrangements and the future of the Zaporizhia nuclear plant also remain major challenges.

How is America viewing this entire process?

US President Donald Trump says that there are positive signs in the peace process. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has admitted that land-related issues are the most difficult and will take time to resolve.

What could happen next?

This invitation from Russia shows that the door to negotiations is not completely closed yet. But considering the tough stance of both the countries, the path to peace does not seem easy. Now everyone's eyes are on what decision Zelensky takes on this proposal and whether this initiative proves to be a concrete step towards ending the war.