Will negotiations with Russia continue if Putin does not meet with Zelenskyy? What Umerov says
Photo: Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov (Getty Images)
Talks between Ukraine and Russia will continue even if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, states Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (RNBO) and head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, during a press conference following the third round of negotiations with Russia in Istanbul.
"I’m hearing this question for the first time (regarding whether this meeting was the last in such a format — ed.). We have never said that. We said that President Trump’s initiative is supported, and we have already held many meetings. We are making progress on the humanitarian track," Umerov said.
At the same time, he noted that Ukraine and Russia have not yet made progress on a ceasefire.
"And we are working on priority issues. Our priority has always been the people, the ceasefire, and the meeting of the leaders," said the head of the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
Meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy
Previously, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov stated that during the negotiations in Istanbul, the Russians were proposed to hold a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin by the end of August.
This meeting is planned to take place with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump.
As Zelenskyy noted, a meeting at the leaders’ level is necessary to advance peace, since decisions in Russia are made only by Putin.
However, the Kremlin has so far not responded to whether a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is possible.
Earlier, the Russian leader claimed he was supposedly ready to meet with Zelenskyy but expressed concerns about the signing of documents. Putin considers the President of Ukraine "illegitimate."
