Zelenskyy says Russians do everything to prevent direct meeting with Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russians are doing everything to prevent a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"Exactly at the level of leaders the issue must be resolved in order to end the war. But now we see that the Russians are doing everything so that there will be no meeting," Zelenskyy said.
He noted that Ukraine, unlike Russia, is not afraid of any meetings with leaders.
"We are ready to work productively, as much as possible. We hope that partners will help ensure at least a minimally productive position of the Russian side," the president added.
Zelenskyy emphasized that it is necessary to force the Russians into diplomacy.
"Really strong sanctions are needed if they do not agree to a diplomatic resolution of this war, if they do not want to end the war. We are very much counting on strong packages from our partners," the head of state noted.
Zelenskyy–Putin meeting
The idea of a bilateral meeting arose after last week US President Donald Trump held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and a few days later received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.
Earlier, the format of trilateral negotiations between Zelenskyy, Putin and Trump was actively discussed. However, after the summit in Washington, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy and Putin first meet without his participation.
Media reported that the Kremlin leader proposed meeting Zelenskyy in Moscow, but the Ukrainian leader refused.
Meanwhile, there was information that the White House proposed Hungary as the venue for the meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. However, there is still no official confirmation of Budapest as the summit location.
Zelenskyy stated that a meeting with Putin should take place only on neutral territory in Europe – for example, in Austria or Switzerland. He also did not rule out the possibility of holding negotiations in Türkiye.
At the same time, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putin is allegedly ready to meet with the Ukrainian president "only if all the issues requiring discussion at the highest level are well worked out."
Today, Russia declared that Ukraine and Russia have not yet come closer to holding a summit at the highest level. A meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin is possible only when the parties agree on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president is convinced that the Russian president is trying to avoid the necessity of holding a meeting at the level of leaders.
