Lavrov Calls Zelensky Invitation to Moscow a 'Gesture of Goodwill', Won't Stop War for Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the standing invitation for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Moscow as "an enormous gesture of goodwill" from Russia's side, responding to Zelensky's weekend offer to meet President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Miami, Florida.

Lavrov made the remarks to Russia's Vesti news service, saying: "An invitation has been sent to this person. If he wants to meet, then let him come." He added that Zelensky had not yet cancelled his official decree banning contacts with Putin and his team, suggesting Ukraine's stated openness to talks was not genuine.

No Ceasefire During Negotiations

Russia maintained that it would not halt its military campaign during any potential negotiations. Lavrov stated the country remained open to dialogue with Ukraine but on condition that fighting continues. This position has been Kremlin's standing posture throughout the full-scale war, which began in February 2022.

Earlier Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov separately repeated Moscow's insistence that Zelensky must come to Moscow for any meeting, while declining to comment on whether Putin would attend the G20 summit at all. Zelensky had said at the G20 he was ready to meet Putin if the Russian leader also attended.