Zelensky Offers to Meet Putin in Azerbaijan, Discusses Security Guarantees with US

President Volodymyr Zelensky, during an official visit to Baku, offered to meet with Vladimir Putin in Azerbaijan — accepting any neutral country as a venue except Russia or Belarus. Zelensky stated that Ukraine was actively discussing the next negotiation round with the United States, with security guarantees as the central topic. He had previously offered Istanbul, the Middle East, and Europe as venues. The peace diplomacy intensified amid US pressure from the Trump administration, which has sought to broker an end to the war. Ukraine insists any ceasefire must include binding security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.