Zelensky Calls for Direct Meeting with Putin
(MENAFN) Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky has renewed his call for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting this is essential for achieving lasting peace. However, Moscow dismisses this approach as futile until both nations’ delegations find mutual agreement.
In May, Putin proposed restarting direct talks from where Ukraine halted negotiations unilaterally in 2022. Zelensky countered by demanding a face-to-face meeting in Istanbul.
Under apparent pressure from Washington, Ukraine eventually consented to send a delegation. Since then, two negotiation rounds have taken place, leading to prisoner exchanges but no significant progress toward ending the conflict.
Negotiations came to a halt in June after Kyiv rejected Moscow’s peace proposals, later declaring the process “exhausted.” Kyiv suggested it engaged only to avoid undermining US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts.
On Saturday, Zelensky emphasized the need to “increase the pace of negotiations,” proposing a fresh round of talks next week, and reiterated his demand for a personal summit with Putin.
“A meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure a lasting peace,” he said, adding: “Ukraine is ready.”
Though Zelensky’s presidential term ended last year, he remains in office under martial law, which he imposed. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently accused Zelensky of seeking a personal meeting with Putin to strengthen his political standing, alleging he “is insanely afraid of being forgotten, of becoming unnecessary for the West.”
Despite questions around Zelensky’s legitimacy, Putin has expressed willingness to meet him but doubts his authority to finalize agreements.
“I am ready to meet with anyone, including Zelensky. That’s not the issue,” Putin said in June. “The question is different: Who will sign the documents?”
Moscow asserts that legal power in Ukraine lies with the parliament rather than Zelensky. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s legislature extended martial law and general mobilization for 90 more days, with only one opposing vote.
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