Putin Proposes Moscow Summit with Zelensky, Zelensky Refuses

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed holding a peace summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow during a phone call with US President Donald Trump, but Zelensky rejected the idea. Trump, who held talks with Zelensky and European leaders in Washington, expressed hope for a direct meeting between the two leaders as a step toward ending the nearly four-year conflict. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have suggested alternative neutral venues such as Geneva or Hungary for such talks, emphasizing the need for security guarantees and careful preparation. Swiss authorities have also offered to host negotiations, though legal challenges remain due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Putin. Meanwhile, during a separate summit in Alaska, Trump and Putin discussed the Ukraine conflict but did not reach a final deal. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, indicated readiness for further negotiations but stressed the complexity and preparation required for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky.