Putin Unwilling to Meet Zelensky Now or in Future, Reports 24brussels
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is currently not willing to engage in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and future meetings remain unlikely, reports 24brussels. Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov stated that Putin had reached an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a “potential elevation of representatives” in the Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later emphasized that Russia does not dismiss any negotiation formats; however, a high-level summit requires careful preparation. CNN interprets this stance as the Kremlin lowering expectations surrounding potential talks.
A meeting between Zelensky and Putin would imply Russia’s acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president, despite state-controlled media referring to him as a “puppet of the West.”
“Putin will have to accept the failure of a meeting with a president he considers a joke from a nonexistent country,” remarked Orysiya Lutsevych from Chatham House.
The Kremlin avoids naming Zelensky directly, instead using the term “Kyiv regime.” They are also advocating for elections to take place in Ukraine, believing that Trump could influence Ukraine toward a more conciliatory position.
“Putin does not see a meeting with Zelensky as critically important because his war is primarily a confrontation with the West,” commented political scientist Tatyana Stanovaya from the Carnegie Endowment. “However, he might agree if he has assurances that Moscow’s demands (territorial concessions) will be on the table.”
CNN suggests that during a new round of negotiations in Istanbul, Russia might send Lavrov and Ushakov as representatives. However, without guarantees of success, the Kremlin shows no readiness for a summit with Zelensky. Furthermore, Trump, who initially announced this meeting, acknowledged the following day that “it should be decided by the leaders themselves.” Currently, Putin lacks any incentive for such a meeting, as he receives diplomatic concessions—such as sanctions delays—without the need for compromises.
“The only lingering question is whom Trump will blame for the failure of the negotiation process,” analysts conclude.
Currently, there is no information regarding where and when the meeting between Zelensky and Putin will take place, although a two-week deadline—by the end of August—has been set. Possible locations include Geneva, Budapest, Minsk, and Rome. If bilateral talks occur, they could be followed by a “three-way summit” involving U.S. President Donald Trump.
