Zelenskyy challenges Putin to meet in Kostiantynivka, calls capture claim a lie

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has directly challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a meeting in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, a location Putin falsely claimed Russian forces had captured.

“

If Kostiantynivka is now controlled by Russia, I think Putin would have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war.

Zelenskyy stated that Putin's assertion of capturing Kostiantynivka was a lie. He proposed that if the city were indeed under Russian control, Putin should have no issue meeting him there to find diplomatic solutions to end the war. "But he still won't cross the front line, because the truth is very different from Putin's words," Zelenskyy added.

“

But he still won't cross the front line, because the truth is very different from Putin's words.

Putin had declared that Russian forces had taken control of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. However, this claim is contradicted by available information. The "DeepState" map shows Russian forces near the city but not controlling it. The Ukrainian General Staff has also dismissed Putin's statement, confirming that Kostiantynivka remains under the control of Ukrainian defense forces.

“

his claim that Kostiantynivka was 'captured' does not correspond to reality.