Zelensky Hints at Possible Direct Meeting with Putin, Seeks Trump’s Involvement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that negotiators from Kyiv and Moscow have discussed the possibility of holding a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of efforts to end the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine, which has lasted for more than three years.
During a press conference on Friday, Zelensky stated: “We need to end the war, which will likely begin with a meeting between the leaders.”
“The Russian side has started discussing the possibility of such a meeting with us, and that in itself is a step forward.”
Kyiv Aims to Include Trump in Proposed Summit
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine considers the meeting a key objective in the ongoing negotiations and expressed his country’s desire to involve former U.S. President Donald Trump in the proposed summit, viewing him as a potential international figure who could help accelerate the resolution of the conflict.
For his part, President Putin indicated that such a summit would only be feasible at a later stage of the negotiations, which have yet to yield significant progress.
Ukrainian Proposal to Hold Summit by Late August, Trump Sets Deadline for Putin
During the third round of talks held in Istanbul on Wednesday, the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, proposed convening the summit by the end of August, aligning with a 50-day deadline reportedly set by Trump for President Putin to reach a resolution or face additional U.S. sanctions.
Russia Expresses Doubt Over Meeting Feasibility, Continues Military Operations
The Russian side, however, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a near-term summit, citing significant differences in positions.
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky told the TASS news agency: “The meeting must be carefully prepared. Only then would it be meaningful.”
Meanwhile, Russia continues its military operations on the ground. President Zelensky noted that Russian forces are attempting to make progress but stated:
“They have not achieved any major breakthroughs so far.”
