Zelenskyy-Putin meeting on the table? Here's what both sides are saying
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supports holding an in-person meeting with Vladimir Putin. However, Moscow takes a different stance.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Türkiye, Nariman Dzhelyal, told RBC-Ukraine that the Russians view the logic behind preparing for a leaders’ summit differently.
He explained that Zelenskyy proposed a meeting of the leaders to outline a framework within which negotiation teams could then continue their work.
However, Moscow wants the opposite approach — first, for expert groups to reach agreements. Only if such an agreement seems likely, then — in Russia's view — it would make sense to talk about a ceasefire and a potential meeting between the presidents.
"We propose to stop the killings for the duration of the talks, but they want to continue killing until the positions are agreed upon before the meeting of the presidents," Dzhelyal emphasized.
Possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin
In May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Türkiye, expecting to meet with Putin. But the Russian president ignored Zelenskyy's offer of direct talks. Instead of a presidential summit in Istanbul, a meeting between delegations was held.
Earlier, the Kremlin claimed that Putin was supposedly open to meetings with Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump. However, Moscow insists that such a meeting should only take place if direct negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations yield results.
Putin has also said he is willing to meet with Zelenskyy, but not to sign any documents.
As stated by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, Rustem Umerov, Ukraine proposed organizing a four-way summit by the end of August with the participation of Zelenskyy, Putin, Trump, and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
