Lavrov calls invitation for Zelenskyy to visit Moscow a "huge goodwill gesture"

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called Russia's invitation for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Moscow a "gesture of goodwill".

Source: Lavrov in a comment to Russia's Vesti news agency, as reported by Kremlin-aligned news agency Interfax

Details: Asked to comment on Zelenskyy's proposal to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the US, Lavrov said: "Dmitry Peskov has already spoken about this, I believe. An invitation has been sent to this person. If he wants to meet, let him come."

Quote: "And this is a huge gesture of goodwill on our part, because he still hasn't cancelled his decree banning contact with Putin and his team. So we're not short of goodwill, but he, as I understand it, is short of good character."

More details: Lavrov also claimed that Russia remains open to talks with Ukraine, but said it would not halt the fighting for the duration of such talks.

Earlier on 12 September, Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, said that if Zelenskyy genuinely wants to meet with Putin, he can come to Moscow.

Meanwhile, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said the question of whether the Russian leader will attend the G20 summit has not yet been discussed.

For reference: In recent years, Ukraine has repeatedly proposed that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin meet in person on neutral territory to hold talks on ending the war Russia unleashed against Ukraine. However, Russia has consistently turned these proposals down, offering to meet only in Moscow.

Background: Zelenskyy has said he would travel to Miami for the December G20 summit and meet Putin there if the Russian leader were to attend.

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