Putin Floats Moscow Summit With Zelensky; Trump Urges ‘Flexibility’ in Peace Talks
Moscow/Washington/Kyiv — August 19, 2025_In a fresh twist to the ongoing diplomatic efforts over the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow during a recent phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to two sources cited by AFP.
The revelation comes amid renewed speculation about possible direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, even as both sides continue to hold sharply different positions on the path to peace.
What Putin Said to Trump
During the phone discussion on Monday, Putin “mentioned Moscow” as a potential venue for talks with Zelensky, the sources confirmed.
While the Kremlin later said it was “considering the possibility” of high-level talks with Ukraine, it stopped short of confirming whether any summit planning was underway.
Zelensky’s Firm Rejection
According to AFP, Zelensky dismissed the idea immediately, responding with a clear “no” to Putin’s proposal of meeting in Moscow.
However, the Ukrainian president told reporters on Monday that he remained open to direct talks with the Russian leader, though not under conditions dictated by Moscow.
Trump’s Message to Both Sides
In a separate interview with Fox & Friends on Tuesday, Trump urged Putin to demonstrate goodwill while calling on Zelensky to be “flexible” in negotiations.
“I hope President Putin is going to be good. And if he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” Trump said. “And I hope that Zelensky... will do what he has to do. He has to show some flexibility.”
Trump also revealed that the White House had been exploring a potential face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
“Maybe they’re getting along a little bit better than I thought. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have set up the [bilateral meeting],” Trump noted. “I wouldn’t say they are ever going to be best friends, but they are doing OK.”
What’s Next?
The Kremlin has kept its response deliberately vague, saying it is “studying” the idea of direct talks but providing no details on logistics or timing.
For Kyiv, any suggestion of holding negotiations in Moscow remains politically untenable, as Ukraine continues to insist that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be at the core of any peace framework.
With Washington re-entering the diplomatic stage through Trump’s involvement, analysts say the coming weeks could determine whether a new round of talks materializes—or whether the Moscow proposal is quickly shelved.