ERBIL () - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow had been prepared to reopen talks with Kyiv following Russia’s elections, but claimed that Ukrainian attacks on voting stations and Moscow disrupted the process. At the same time, Bloomberg reported that US President Donald Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to travel to Moscow for talks with Putin.
Putin also rejected reports that Russia was preparing for a wider war with European countries, saying Moscow had no reason or incentive to take such action.
Speaking on Friday, Putin addressed efforts to resume negotiations and the reasons for continued tensions, saying Moscow had intended to reopen dialogue with Kyiv after elections in Russia.
He said Ukraine had attempted to attack Moscow and targeted voting stations, which he said complicated the situation.
Putin issued a warning to Ukraine’s leadership, saying:
“Kyiv must pay the price for the attacks it carries out against Russian infrastructure and clearly feel our response; they must understand that initiating actions to complicate the situation and prolonging the war will bring them no benefit.”
On relations with Western countries, Putin rejected reports that the war could expand into Europe and said Russia was not preparing for a war against European countries.
He said there was no reason, motivation or basis for such an action.
Putin also criticized the position of Western countries, saying:
“Some warmongering circles in Europe want to use the Ukrainian people as fuel for war, solely to prevent Russia from developing and becoming stronger.”
Regarding efforts to end the war, Putin reiterated that all initiatives and proposals for reaching a peaceful settlement were “on the negotiating table.”
He nevertheless stressed that Moscow would first carefully examine the proposals and issues involved to determine whether they serve Russia’s national and broader interests.
Bloomberg, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that Trump had asked Zelenskiy to travel to Moscow for talks with Putin, despite Ukraine’s previous rejection of such a proposal.
According to the report, Zelenskiy rejected the proposal during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
People familiar with his position said Zelenskiy was upset that Trump had raised the matter.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s presidential envoy, was currently in the United States and had held a series of discussions with US negotiators focused on prospects for economic cooperation.
Peskov said there were no further details available at the time regarding the timing or arrangements for a potential trilateral meeting.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Dmitriev met with US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sept. 24.
The contacts come as Washington, Moscow and Kyiv discuss possible diplomatic steps toward ending the war.
Zelenskiy had previously spoken about the proposed meeting, saying it would take place at a “technical level” and that the United Arab Emirates was a possible venue.
