Russia invites Ukraine's Zelenskyy for peace talks in Moscow
What's the story
Russia has reiterated its invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for peace talks in Moscow. The Kremlin's announcement comes amid intensified US-led efforts to end the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. This comes after both countries exchanged war dead and amid rumors of a possible agreement to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure.
Ongoing negotiations
US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi bring new momentum
Last weekend's US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi have added fresh momentum to the peace efforts, although major differences between Russian and Ukrainian negotiating positions remain. Fierce fighting continues as Kyiv struggles with crippling power outages from recent missile strikes. An unnamed US official told Axios on Saturday that Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin were "very close" to arranging a meeting after these talks.
Ongoing disputes
Major disagreements persist over territory and security
Despite the progress, major disagreements remain over the distribution of territory in any potential deal. The presence of international peacekeepers or monitors in post-war Ukraine and the future of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are also contentious issues. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Moscow is still awaiting a response to its invitation for Zelenskyy to come to Moscow.
Safety assurances
Zelenskyy's safety guaranteed, but skepticism remains
Zelenskyy had previously rejected a similar invitation last year, citing security concerns. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov assured that Zelenskyy's safety would be guaranteed if he visited Moscow this time. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted that the territorial disagreement between the two countries is central to the problem and a "very difficult" issue to resolve.
Security doubts
Russian Foreign Minister questions viability of US security guarantees
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has questioned the viability of any security guarantees from Washington for Ukraine. He expressed skepticism about their ability to bring lasting peace if they are intended to keep Ukraine's current political leadership in power. Meanwhile, Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, called for more war instead of peace, reflecting hardliners' belief that Moscow is winning on the battlefield.