Moscow, Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy only to finalise agreements on the conflict. His comments came after Ukraine said it asked Turkey to host a meeting between the two leaders to reinvigorate stalling peace talks.
Kremlin stance on a leaders’ meeting
Peskov, speaking on state television and quoted by Russian news agencies, questioned the purpose of a meeting and said Putin was ready for a meeting in Moscow “at any moment.” He said the goal should be productive and “only be for the purpose of finalising agreements.”
Conditions and preparation
Peskov said any such meeting required careful preparation and “political will from the Kyiv regime,” adding that Russia did not currently see such political will.
Russia’s aims and readiness for talks
Peskov said Russia’s main aim in its military drive, described as a “special military operation,” was to ensure its vital interests and guard against Ukrainian attacks on energy and other targets, which he described as “the danger of terrorism from the Kyiv region.” He said Russia was ready for any new talks on a settlement with U.S. negotiators “even tomorrow.”
Ukraine request to Turkey and Ankara’s position
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had asked Turkey to host a meeting between the two leaders, without saying how Ankara had responded. The Turkish presidency said President Tayyip Erdogan told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Ankara was making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides.
What do you think would be required for a Putin-Zelenskiy meeting to take place?
