In brief
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Volodymyr Zelenskyy must fly to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin, adding that the Kremlin would guarantee his safety in Russia but not in Kyiv. Lavrov’s remarks came as part of broader G20 discussions, while earlier Kremlin and U.S. officials offered differing views on a potential summit meeting.
Sergey Lavrov announced on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would need to travel to Moscow in order to have a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Lavrov, speaking for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said the country would guarantee Zelenskyy’s safety and security in Moscow, but could not offer such guarantees in Kyiv.
In an interview aired on a YouTube livestream, Lavrov reiterated the same position, stressing that only a flight to Moscow could make a meeting possible. The statement was carried by Prensa Latina, which reported Lavrov’s comments at around 00:00 UTC on November 1, 2026.
G20 Talks and Diverging Views
Earlier in September, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described any meeting between the two presidents at the G20 summit in Miami as “impossible.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in contrast, had called for a direct encounter to help end the conflict in Ukraine. The G20 summit, hosted by the United Nations in Miami, is expected to bring together leaders of 19 countries and the European Union.
Lavrov’s latest remarks appear to be a direct response to the ongoing diplomatic negotiations surrounding the G20 event. The Russian Foreign Ministry has indicated that a meeting may only happen if Zelenskyy travels to Moscow, reflecting a clear stance that differs from prior Kremlin statements.
