Zelensky Calls Putin to Meeting in 'Occupied' Kostiantynivka

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, which Russia has declared occupied, a claim Ukraine refutes. The statement was made on Telegram.

“Now, on the eve of America's Independence Day, Putin decided to lie to the world and to the American president about the situation on the front line: he claims that the Russians allegedly captured Kostiantynivka in Donbas. Of course, that is not true – it is just another Russian lie to generate some news,” Zelensky said.

He added: “If Kostiantynivka is currently under Russian control, then Putin presumably would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war. But still, he won't cross the front line: the truth is very different from Putin's words.”

Earlier, Putin claimed that Russian occupation forces “captured Kostiantynivka.” The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine later refuted the information about the alleged occupation of the settlement. The day before, analysts noted that Russian occupiers had reached the outskirts of Kostiantynivka and continued to infiltrate the city.