Putin "Bilateral talks with Zelensky possible... If he comes to Moscow, talks will be held"

Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 3rd proposed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that "if he is ready to hold talks, come to Moscow."

President Putin traveled to China on the 31st of last month to attend the Tianjin SCO leaders' summit and the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

According to TASS and RIA Novosti on that day, President Putin held a press conference in Beijing, China, and said that a bilateral meeting with President Zelensky "is possible."

President Putin added, "If Zelensky is finally ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place."

He also said that U.S. President Donald Trump asked him whether it was possible for him to meet with President Zelensky.

President Zelensky has been demanding face-to-face talks with President Putin to resolve the Ukraine issue.

In this regard, President Putin said that if necessary, he could raise the level of the direct negotiation representatives between Russia and Ukraine, which met three times this year, but said he is satisfied with the role of Vladimir Medinsky, the Kremlin aide who currently heads the Russian negotiating team.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, he said "there is light at the end of the tunnel," but added that if a peace agreement is not reached, Russia will have to carry out military missions.

He confirmed that he invited President Trump to Moscow, but said that no schedule has been set and preparations have not been made.

He evaluated the four-day visit to China that began on the 31st of last month as "positive and useful."

Lee Bo-bae, guest reporter, Hankyung.com newsinfo@hankyung.com