The Brussels Desk · IndependentBrussels desk
EU PoliticsMonday, 28 September 2026 · 2 min read

Trump Urged Zelensky to Meet Putin in Moscow, Report Claims

A Bloomberg report indicates a proposal for direct bilateral talks in the Russian capital, raising diplomatic questions across Western capitals.

By Clara Fontaine · Filed Monday, 28 September 2026 · Last updated 19:10 CET

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What happened

US President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to travel to Moscow for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a report by Bloomberg. The proposal suggests a dramatic shift toward direct bilateral engagement in the Russian capital, bypassing standard diplomatic channels and neutral venues usually favored for high-level international conflict resolution.

Why it matters

A meeting between Ukrainian and Russian leadership held directly inside the Kremlin would represent an extraordinary geopolitical development. Host national territories in international diplomacy carry massive political symbolism and security implications. For Ukraine and its partners, negotiating in Moscow under current conditions raises immediate concerns regarding sovereignty, leverage, and international standing.

The Brussels angle

European diplomats and EU institutions maintain a firm line that no decisions regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity and future security can be made without Kyiv's full central involvement. Direct bilateral proposals initiated outside established European and multilateral formats create diplomatic unease in Brussels, where member states continue to emphasize coordinated Western support, legal accountability, and structured peace frameworks.

What happens next

Kyiv has consistently insisted that any diplomatic talks must respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, while taking place under safe, balanced conditions. European allies and US officials will monitor whether this suggestion leads to formal diplomatic proposals or remains an unaccepted outline.

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Written from these sources

Facts are extracted from primary institutional material and written independently by The Gazette desk.

Parliament Correspondent · European Parliament

Clara Fontaine

Clara Fontaine reports on the European Parliament, its committees and its coalition arithmetic. She counts votes for a living and still occasionally wins.

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