Moscow says it makes no sense to mention the Russia-Ukraine-US summit at this time.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that “if there is no positive, sober and reasonable reaction” to signals from Moscow, there is no reason to discuss the trilateral format of Russia-Ukraine-US.
According to TASS news agency on September 16, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview that until the Ukrainian government gives a reasonable response to Russia's proposals, it is still too early to talk about holding a summit in the form of a trilateral conference between Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Mr Ryabkov noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously said “in full terms everything necessary regarding contacts with Mr Zelensky”.
“If there is no positive, sober and reasonable reaction to signals from us, there is even less basis for discussing some form of trilateralism,” Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov stressed.
However, Mr. Ryabkov said that a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York is being discussed, and the possibility of the meeting taking place is very high.
The commemorative session of the United Nations General Assembly opens on September 9. The high-level week will run from September 23 to 29.
At a press conference after his visit to China in early September, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to invite Zelensky to Moscow if he was ready for a meeting. However, the Ukrainian leader rejected the offer during a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Later, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, the Russian president called Moscow the best venue for a possible meeting with Mr. Zelensky, and also noted that Russia was ready to ensure the safety of both him and Kiev's representatives if they decided to come.