Canada’s prime minister says Putin is afraid to meet with Zelenskyy

KYIV – Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin frets a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss terms of ending the war, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said during a visit to Kyiv, Ukrinform reported.

“Putin keeps setting conditions and dragging things out because he fears this meeting,” he said at a news conference during his visit.

At the same time, Zelenskyy is ready to meet with Putin “on any neutral territory,” Carney added.

“He [Zelenskyy] is not expecting Putin to come to Kyiv, nor does he plan to travel to Moscow for this meeting. Still, any neutral location would work for him,” the Canadian prime minister said.

Carney stressed that it is important for allies to continue providing support to Ukraine until such a meeting takes place.

He also did not rule out the presence of Canadian troops in Ukraine as part of future security guarantees.

“We are working with our allies and with Ukraine through the ‘coalition of the willing’ on the framework for these security guarantees — on land, in the air, and at sea. And I would not rule out the presence of troops,” Carney said.

On Aug. 24, during his official visit to Kyiv, Carney announced a new military aid package for Ukraine that is worth more than $1 billion.

The same day, the Canadian prime minister also met with a UWC delegation that was led by President Paul Grod.