MOSCOW, Aug 4 : Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to holding a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, but only after the required groundwork has been laid by both countries’ delegations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.
Reiterating Moscow’s long-standing position over the matter, he said that a top-level summit must be preceded by substantial progress at the expert level, reports RT.
“A Putin-Zelensky meeting is possible only after all necessary preparations are completed and a sufficient distance in negotiations is crossed,” he told reporters.
Zelensky has consistently been pushing for direct talks with Putin, arguing that meaningful negotiations require the involvement of both heads of state.
However, the Kremlin has raised its doubts over Zelensky’s legitimacy, as his presidential term formally expired in 2024.
Under Ukraine’s constitution, power should transfer to the speaker of parliament in the absence of an election-something currently suspended under martial law.
While Moscow considers the legality of Zelensky’s extended rule Kyiv’s internal affair, it has also warned that the legality of any agreement signed with him on an international level could be challenged.
Zelensky, in turn has accused Putin of deliberately avoiding talks to prolong the conflict, stating that he does not want peace, urging Kyiv’s allies to increase their military support and maintain pressure on Russia via sanctions.
Despite the political impasse, diplomatic channels remain partially open. Ukrainian officials reportedly agreed earlier this year to resume lower-level peace talks with Russia-abandoned in 2022-to dispel perceptions that Kyiv is obstructing a negotiated settlement.
Over three rounds of direct negotiations have since taken place in Istanbul, with few agreements having taken place, which include the topic of prisoner exchanges and the return of the remains of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers recovered by Russian forces.
Whether these developments will eventually lead to a top-level summit remains uncertain, as both sides continue to hold fundamentally opposing positions on the terms of peace. (UNI)
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