The door remains open if Zelenski chose to walk through it
En los márgenes de una guerra que ha consumido años y vidas, Moscú ha extendido una vez más su mano hacia Kiev, ofreciendo su propia capital como escenario para un encuentro entre Putin y Zelenski. La propuesta, respaldada por la presión discreta de Washington, llega en un momento en que el diálogo trilateral en Abu Dhabi ha abierto una rendija de posibilidad. Sin embargo, entre la invitación y la paz verdadera se interpone una pregunta sin respuesta: quién cederá el territorio que el otro considera irrenunciable.
- Moscú ofrece garantías de seguridad a Zelenski para viajar a la capital rusa, una propuesta que Putin habría repetido en múltiples ocasiones sin respuesta definitiva.
- La tensión de fondo es territorial: Rusia exige la retirada ucraniana completa del Donbás como condición previa al cese del fuego, mientras Ucrania controla más de una quinta parte de la región de Donetsk.
- Kiev muestra señales de apertura —su canciller confirmó la disposición de Zelenski a negociar territorio y el control de la planta nuclear de Zaporiyia— pero el historial diplomático del presidente ucraniano con Moscú es de extrema cautela.
- Las conversaciones trilaterales en Abu Dhabi, mediadas por Estados Unidos, representan el primer movimiento tangible, aunque el Kremlin advierte que sería un error esperar grandes avances de los contactos iniciales.
- El verdadero abismo no es geográfico sino político: la distancia entre lo que Rusia exige y lo que Ucrania está dispuesta a conceder sigue siendo el obstáculo central que ninguna cumbre, por sí sola, puede salvar.
El miércoles 29 de enero, el Kremlin anunció su disposición a acoger una cumbre entre Vladimir Putin y Volodymyr Zelenski en Moscú. Yuri Ushakov, asesor de política internacional del Kremlin, hizo pública la oferta en una entrevista televisiva, subrayando que Rusia garantizaría la seguridad del presidente ucraniano y las condiciones necesarias para negociaciones sustantivas. La invitación, según Ushakov, no era nueva: Putin la había extendido en varias ocasiones anteriores.
El momento no fue casual. Donald Trump habría pedido a los rusos que exploraran la viabilidad de un encuentro directo entre los dos líderes, señal de que Washington buscaba activamente un papel de mediación. Desde Kiev, el canciller Andriy Sybiha confirmó que Zelenski estaba dispuesto a reunirse con Putin para abordar los asuntos centrales del conflicto: la cuestión territorial y el control de la planta nuclear de Zaporiyia. Sin embargo, Zelenski tiene un historial de cautela extrema: desde que asumió la presidencia, solo se ha reunido con Putin una vez, en París en diciembre de 2019, y siempre en presencia de terceros.
El Kremlin valoró positivamente las recientes negociaciones trilaterales celebradas en Abu Dhabi bajo mediación estadounidense, aunque Dmitry Peskov, portavoz de Putin, advirtió contra el optimismo prematuro. El verdadero escollo permanece intacto: Moscú exige la retirada total de las fuerzas ucranianas del Donbás antes de aceptar cualquier alto el fuego, mientras Ucrania mantiene el control de más de una quinta parte de la región de Donetsk. Esa brecha —entre lo que Rusia demanda y lo que Kiev está dispuesto a ceder— es el nudo que una eventual cumbre tendría que desatar.
On Wednesday, January 29th, the Kremlin signaled it was ready to host a summit between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenski, provided the Ukrainian president would travel to Moscow. Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's international policy advisor, made the offer public during an interview with Russian television, emphasizing that Moscow would guarantee both security and the working conditions necessary for substantive peace negotiations. He noted that Putin had extended this invitation multiple times before, and that the door remained open if Zelenski chose to walk through it.
The timing of the proposal was not accidental. Behind the scenes, Donald Trump had apparently asked the Russians to explore whether such a meeting was feasible—a sign that the American president was actively trying to broker direct talks between the two leaders. Ushakov stressed that any such contact would need to be carefully prepared and aimed at concrete, positive outcomes. The implication was clear: a summit for its own sake would accomplish nothing.
On the Ukrainian side, there were signs of movement. Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, confirmed that Zelenski was willing to sit down with Putin to tackle the core issues blocking progress: the question of territory and control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. These were not peripheral matters. They sat at the heart of the conflict. Yet Zelenski's history with such meetings was cautious. Since becoming president, he had met Putin only once—in December 2019 in Paris, flanked by the leaders of France and Germany. He had declined to travel to Moscow then, and had also ruled out Budapest as a venue, citing his strained relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The Kremlin viewed recent trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi, mediated by the United States, as a step forward. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, acknowledged that the mere fact of dialogue beginning represented progress. But he tempered expectations sharply, warning that it would be a mistake to anticipate major breakthroughs from initial contacts. The real work, he suggested, lay ahead.
Underlying all of this was a fundamental disagreement about what peace would look like. Russia had made clear that territorial questions—specifically the so-called Anchorage formula—remained its top priority. Moscow would not agree to a ceasefire, Peskov stated, until Ukrainian forces withdrew entirely from the Donbas. The catch was that Ukraine still controlled more than a fifth of Donetsk region, meaning any Russian demand for complete withdrawal would require Ukraine to surrender significant territory it currently held. This gap—between what Russia demanded and what Ukraine was willing to concede—remained the central obstacle to any deal. The summit proposal, if it happened, would be the moment when both sides would have to decide whether that gap could be bridged.
Citas Notables
We guarantee security and the necessary conditions for work— Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin international policy advisor
It would be a mistake to expect major results from initial contacts— Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why would Zelenski agree to go to Moscow when he's avoided it before?
Because the stakes have shifted. Trump is involved now, and that changes the calculus. Plus, if there's any chance of ending the war, Zelenski has to at least show he's willing to negotiate.
But doesn't traveling to Moscow put him in a weak position—literally on Putin's home turf?
That's the real tension. Yes, it's symbolically risky. But Ushakov's promise of security and proper conditions suggests they're trying to make it safe. The question is whether Zelenski believes them.
What's the actual sticking point here? Territory?
Territory is the whole thing. Russia won't stop fighting until Ukraine gives up the Donbas. Ukraine controls parts of it still. So someone has to lose land they're currently holding. That's why these talks keep stalling.
Is Abu Dhabi actually moving the needle?
Peskov says it's progress just to be talking. But he's also saying don't expect miracles. That's diplomatic code for: we're nowhere near a deal yet.
What happens if Zelenski says no to Moscow?
Then the invitation stays open, and the cycle continues. Trump keeps pushing, the war keeps going, and both sides wait for the other to break.