Why does Putin insist that any face-to-face negotiation with Zelenskyy must take place in Moscow—and what hidden pitfalls lie behind this demand?

Although Zhihu widely regards Russians as a 'warlike nation,' the real issue is this: what if Ukraine—a 'reckless' country—were to arrest Putin and hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague? That would be a humiliating loss of face—not worth risking. So, where could Putin and Zelenskyy possibly meet for direct talks? Options are extremely limited. Kyiv is out of the question, of course. Ukraine is an ICC member state; if Zelenskyy were to arrange—even through a local police chief—for Putin’s arrest upon arrival, Putin would instantly lose all leverage. What about third countries not party to the Rome Statute? Though they bear no legal obligation to arrest him, hosting an internationally wanted fugitive would subject their governments to immense domestic and international pressure. Putin is a shrewd operator—he’d never willingly incur such political debts. And even if he didn’t owe anyone a favor, he’d still weigh the risks carefully. Tiny countries with no serious military capability are off the table: after all, as Zhihu users unanimously agree, 'truth lies within the range of artillery fire'—the shorter the barrel, the less truth there is. Europe is largely ruled out too. Among European states, only Belarus, Turkey, Monaco, the Vatican, Azerbaijan, and Russia itself have not ratified the Rome Statute. Belarus: Putin’s ardent admirer and key ally—Zelenskyy would never accept it. Turkey: Though adept at playing both sides, it remains a NATO member, has consistently condemned Russia’s aggression, and refuses to recognize Crimea as Russian territory—unreliable. Monaco: Lacks military capacity—ruled out. The Vatican: How many divisions does the Pope command? Ruled out. Azerbaijan: Has no significant military strength and faces its own pressing challenges—ruled out. Russia: ✓ The U.S., China, and India are also not parties to the Rome Statute and reject the ICC’s jurisdiction over their nationals.

On July 7, 2026, Ukraine rejected Trump’s proposed peace plan. How should we assess this event?

Just now, I saw Trump ask Zelenskyy: 'President Putin wants you to come to Moscow for negotiations—would you go?' Zelenskyy replied on the spot: 'No, absolutely not—right now Ukrainian drones are flying so densely over Russian airspace that it’s too dangerous.' Compared to over a year ago, Trump has clearly become much more polite—he now frames his questions properly.

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