Putin backs direct meetings with Zelenskyy and Trump in principle – Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
The Kremlin has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is, in principle, in favor of meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, according to Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov claims that if direct negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations yield results, then contacts at the highest level may be possible.
"President Putin has repeatedly stated that, in principle, he supports high-level contacts — of course, they are necessary. But they must be properly prepared, and first, tangible results must be achieved through negotiations between the delegations — in direct talks between the two countries," said the Russian president's spokesperson.
Putin skips meeting with Zelenskyy
It was Russian President Vladimir Putin who proposed resuming direct negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stated he was ready to meet with the President.
On May 15, Zelenskyy visited Türkiye with the aim of meeting Putin, but the President ignored the talks.
Instead, Putin sent a low-level delegation to Istanbul, headed by Vladimir Medinsky. Negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian teams took place on May 16.
No agreement on a ceasefire was reached during these first talks in three years. Russia is now proposing a new round of negotiations on June 2.
Ukraine has stated that it is open to further meetings but first wants to see a Russian memorandum outlining Moscow's vision of a potential truce.
