Kremlin comes up with new excuse to dodge talks with Zelenskyy

Peskov was asked whether Russia is ready to discuss the possibility of Putin meeting with Zelenskyy if he lifts the ban on talks with Putin.

"To be fair, this ban is still in effect. This is an obvious fact. This is the first thing. Second. We hope that it will be this week. As soon as we are ready, we will announce the timing. The topic of the talks is quite complex," Peskov said.

In addition to these issues, it is necessary to discuss the draft memorandums that Ukraine and Russia presented during the talks in Istanbul.

"So first we will have to work hard before we can talk about the possibility of any meetings at the highest level," Putin's spokesman said.

The ban on negotiations with Putin

In October 2022, Zelenskyy issued a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council that negotiations with Vladimir Putin were impossible.

In January 2025, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine had not abandoned its decision to ban direct talks with Putin.

Ukraine-Russia talks

Ukraine and Russia have already held two rounds of talks in Istanbul. The biggest results of these meetings were large-scale prisoner exchanges and the transfer of the bodies of fallen soldiers.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the third round of talks is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, and will also take place in Istanbul.

The main topics of the talks will be the return of prisoners and deported children, as well as discussing the possibility of a personal meeting between the leaders.

The Kremlin is in favor of a third round of talks. Moscow claims that during the meeting, it is going to discuss memorandums on the end of the war.