Ukraine slams Russia’s Foreign Minister's claim that Zelenskyy is illegitimate President

Sybiga noted that Lavrov has held his post for 21 years yet believes he has the right to judge others.

“There is nothing more absurd than a lecture on legitimacy from a person who has sat in his chair for 21 years, serving someone who has ruled for over 25 years. He has no legitimacy to talk about legitimacy,” Sybiha said.

According to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, such unfounded statements indicate that Russia is rejecting peace efforts.

“Such unfounded statements show that Russia is dismissing peaceful efforts,” Sybiha added.

Background

In an interview with NBC News, Lavrov stated that Moscow recognizes Volodymyr Zelenskyy “de facto” as Ukraine’s leader and is ready to meet with him.

At the same time, he again raised the issue of the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian President, stressing that signing legal documents should only be done by a legitimate person.

According to Russia’s Foreign Minister, under Ukraine’s Constitution, Zelenskyy currently does not meet this requirement.

Lavrov hinted that Putin might refuse to sign a peace agreement due to the illegitimacy of the Ukrainian president.

Zelenskyy-Putin meeting

The idea of a bilateral meeting emerged after US President Donald Trump held talks with Putin in Alaska.

Several potential locations are being considered for the summit between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. The US favors Budapest as a mediator, Austria proposed Vienna, and Belarus is ready to host the meeting if necessary.

Putin proposed holding the meeting in Moscow, but Zelenskyy declined. Other possible locations include Geneva, Istanbul, and the Vatican.

A meeting in Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, is also being considered.

For a detailed overview of the cities under consideration, along with their advantages and disadvantages, check out our material on the topic.