Russian President Putin declares he is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky, potentially in Moscow, but insists that any meeting must be well-prepared and yield tangible results.
Putin’s Public Invitation
During a speech in September 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the possibility of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating he has always been open to such a meeting. He added that a future meeting would need to be well-prepared and lead to concrete outcomes.
Conditions for a Summit
Putin acknowledged that while he has always been open to a meeting with Zelensky, he emphasized that the meeting must be well-prepared and lead to tangible results.
International Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the situation during a joint meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, expressing his belief that Putin is seeking to outmaneuver U.S. President Donald Trump over the matter of Ukraine. The German Chancellor supported Macron’s view and stated that a meeting between Zelensky and Putin would be premature until crucial issues are resolved.
Skepticism in the Scene
Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko noted in an interview with the Ukrainian portal ZIUA that Russia continues to delay the situation. According to Fesenko, such tactics of dragging out the negotiations and changing the terms will not please U.S. President Donald Trump.
