The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin might meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, contingent on certain preconditions being met. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, did not specify what these necessary agreements would entail.
Zelensky challenged Putin to meet in Turkey this week. However, instead of accepting this offer, Putin dispatched a team of advisors and officials to engage in meetings with Ukrainian negotiators, marking the first in-person discussions since March 2022. It was during these talks that Ukraine raised the possibility of a direct meeting between the two leaders.
Historically, Putin has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy as president, citing the expiration of his electoral mandate last year. Ukraine, currently under martial law while defending against Russia, has yet to set a date for new elections.
Peskov noted that a meeting between the two leaders could only occur if both parties work towards achieving specific results in the form of agreements. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of determining who would sign any such documents on behalf of Ukraine.
Putin and Zelensky have not met face-to-face since December 2019, making the potential of their upcoming discussions significant amidst the ongoing conflict.
