File photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin. AFP.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow is open to hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks, should he be willing to meet.
Speaking at a press conference following his visit to China, Putin stated he informed US President Donald Trump about the possibility of holding a meeting with Zelenskyy.
If Zelenskyy is ready for talks, he is welcome to come to Moscow, he said.
Putin also suggested that regional issues in Ukraine could be resolved through referendums, but stressed that martial law must be lifted for that to happen.
On Ukraine's international alignments, Putin remarked that Moscow has always opposed Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, but never denied its right to pursue its own political and economic path - including EU membership.
He added that Ukraine's security cannot come at the expense of Russia's.
Putin made the comments at the conclusion of his visit to China, which took place from August 31 to September 3. During the trip, he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines.
