Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a cutting response when asked about Vladimir Putin’s call for talks in Moscow, joking that the Russian capital was too dangerous because of Ukraine’s drones.
During a meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian leader was asked whether he would travel to Moscow for negotiations after Trump said Putin wanted talks to take place there.
Zelenskyy appeared to dismiss the idea with a pointed joke.
“It is difficult for me to go to Moscow because there are so many Ukrainian drones in the air,” he said.
“It’s dangerous. There are many Ukrainian drones in the air. That’s why. It will be dangerous for everyone.”
The remark came after Trump said both Putin and Zelenskyy would eventually meet in an effort to end the war.
Trump said the Russian leader wanted a Moscow meeting and expressed hope that negotiations could produce a positive outcome.
But Zelenskyy’s response highlighted Ukraine’s growing ability to strike deep inside Russian territory with long-range drones.
Now that’s funny….. https://t.co/XNP4j2Bpih
— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) July 8, 2026
The Ukrainian president has repeatedly pointed to drone attacks as a key part of Kyiv’s strategy to pressure Moscow and disrupt Russia’s military infrastructure.
The comments followed Ukrainian drone attacks on the Moscow oil refinery, located around 15 kilometres from the Kremlin.
The facility was reportedly targeted twice in June, with Zelenskyy praising the upgraded long-range drones used in the operation.
He said the strikes represented a response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically produced drones capable of reaching targets hundreds of kilometres inside Russia, allowing Kyiv to hit fuel supplies, military sites and industrial facilities.
Trump said during the meeting that Zelenskyy had strong support from NATO leaders and insisted that talks between the two sides would eventually happen.
However, the exchange underlined the deep divide between Kyiv and Moscow, with Ukraine continuing to demand security guarantees while Russia pushes for negotiations on its own terms.
Zelenskyy’s Moscow quip quickly became a symbol of Ukraine’s expanding drone campaign — turning a proposed peace-talk location into a reminder that the battlefield now reaches far beyond the front line.
Leave a Comment