Zelensky Ready to Meet Putin 'Even in Antarctica,' Ukraine's UN Envoy Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin anywhere in the world except Moscow, including Florida, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in December, or even Antarctica, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Andriy Melnyk said.Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Monday, Nov. 9, Melnyk said Ukraine remained committed to seeking peace despite what he described as Russia’s attempts to undermine diplomatic efforts. Interfax-Ukraine reported his remarks.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.According to Interfax-Ukraine, Melnyk said the upcoming trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday could produce results, but added that a political breakthrough would be difficult without a direct meeting between the two presidents.“That is precisely why the President of Ukraine is ready to meet with Putin at the first opportunity – whether in Florida in December, on the sidelines of the G20, or in any other corner of the world; if necessary, even in Antarctica, anywhere, just not in Moscow,” he said.Russia losing ground despite continued offensive, Melnyk saysMelnyk argued that Putin was still seeking to break Ukraine’s will and force the country to capitulate, but said Russian forces had been losing territory for the second consecutive month.Citing figures from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), he said Russian troops captured 139 square kilometers (54 square miles) of Ukrainian territory in October but lost control of 167 square kilometers (64 square miles), resulting in a net territorial loss of 28 square kilometers (11 square miles). Other Topics of Interest Coalition of the Willing Kicks Off War Drills for Ukraine’s Postwar Deployment The exercise takes place in Poland and is set to last until Nov. 22, with the UK heading the drills involving multiple European countries. “The result is a net territorial loss of 28 square kilometers for Russia, which continues to advance – but is actually retreating,” Melnyk said.He argued that Russian forces had lost their strategic initiative and offensive capabilities, describing the Kremlin’s ambitions for further territorial conquests as increasingly unrealistic.Melnyk also accused Moscow of pursuing three parallel strategies: intensifying attacks on Ukrainian civilians, expanding sabotage and psychological operations to undermine Ukrainian society and relations with European allies, and using diplomatic negotiations to buy time while continuing to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure.He suggested that Russia could seek a ceasefire only after inflicting maximum damage on Ukraine, rather than as a genuine step toward ending the war.Ukraine urges UN members to provide more air defense systemsMelnyk called on European allies and all UN member states to immediately transfer their available air defense systems to Ukraine, with particular emphasis on Patriot interceptor missiles.He said Ukraine needed additional systems to protect its skies from what he described as an “apocalyptic rain of Russian missiles.”“Keeping these vital systems in storage while, before the eyes of the entire world, Russia kills dozens of civilians every day and turns Ukraine into a scorched earth is hardly a Christian thing to do,” the diplomat said.Zelensky seeks Erdoğan’s help in arranging talks with PutinEarlier, Zelensky said he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey, expressing hope that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could help arrange the talks. He told CNN Türk that direct negotiations between the two leaders were necessary, as previous talks between their delegations had failed to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.“We are ready for this meeting in Turkey. I know that President Erdoğan has his own ties with Putin. That is why we support holding a meeting in Turkey,” Zelensky said.He argued that a face-to-face meeting could help resolve issues that remain unsettled in negotiations between the countries’ delegations and technical working groups.“That is precisely why I want to meet with him – as the person who makes the decisions,” Zelensky added.He said the talks should address a ceasefire along the front line, mechanisms to monitor compliance, security guarantees and Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.Zelensky also ruled out accepting Putin’s demands that Ukraine surrender the Donbas or recognize Crimea as Russian, saying such concessions would violate the Ukrainian Constitution. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.