Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Monday that he has made an offer to hold a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the United States.
In a video speech posted on the X platform, Zelensky explained that this proposal was discussed during a phone call he had with US President Donald Trump, describing the format of the proposed meeting as "it will be difficult for Putin to reject it," adding, "We will see what will work out."
A source in the Ukrainian presidency told reporters that the proposal was not born of the moment, but "was conveyed some time ago through various channels that included mediators, diplomats and intelligence services."
The source pointed out that the Russian side has not provided any clear response to the offer so far.
The Ukrainian effort comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin insists on rejecting calls for a face-to-face meeting, saying earlier this month that he sees "no point" in meeting Zelensky before a peace deal is reached.
The Ukrainian president has also previously indicated that Putin also ignored an invitation to meet him at the G7 summit currently taking place in France.
UK sanctions package against Russia
Ahead of the G7 summit session on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will supply Ukraine with enriched uranium to operate its nuclear plants, in conjunction with the imposition of a new sanctions package on Russia.
According to a statement issued by the British government, export financing worth 210 million pounds (about $281 million) will allow Britain's Orenco to supply enriched uranium to Ukraine's Energoatom.
Starmer reiterated London's condemnation of Russia's strikes, stressing his country's determination to "strangle the resources that fund Putin's war and provide Ukraine with energy for the coming winters."
France leads U.S. pressure rally at Evian summit
All eyes will be on the French city of Evian on Tuesday, where President Zelensky will arrive to participate in a working meeting that will discuss ways of peace and security in Ukraine and Europe within the G7 summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron is leading a push to garner more visible U.S. support, telling French broadcaster TF1: "What I want in essence is to have Americans who say, 'We're with you. We will continue to help Ukraine, and we will increase the pressure on Russia."
These diplomatic and military developments come at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fifth year since its outbreak in February 2022, leaving the largest geopolitical and security crisis on the European continent since World War II, and causing broad global humanitarian and economic repercussions amid a continuous stalemate in the paths of a diplomatic solution.
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