Zelensky to Russian press: 'On a missile' to Moscow

An unusual moment unfolded this week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, when Russian journalists repeatedly asked Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky about the possibility of his coming to Moscow. Rather than offer a lengthy explanation, he delivered a short, sharp answer that quickly went viral online.

In footage circulating on social media, Zelensky is seen leaving a UN event, flanked by security personnel. From the crowd of reporters, the question rang out again and again: "When to Moscow?" Zelensky at first did not respond and kept walking, but after a few steps he covered his mouth with his hand and replied in Russian: "On a missile, damn it."

The exchange took place on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. According to reports in several outlets, the question was put to him by correspondents from Russian state media, among them Valentin Bogdanov, a reporter for the channel Russia 1.

Behind the question lies a broader debate over the possibility of a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has claimed in the past that any meeting between the two should take place in Moscow, while Kyiv has floated other options for a potential encounter.

Zelensky himself is in New York for the UN Assembly, where he has been occupied in part with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and with efforts to reach a settlement. Against that backdrop, the direct question put to him by the Russian reporters became within hours one of the most talked-about moments from his encounter with the press.