Home » Putin Signals Conditional Willingness For Talks With Zelensky

Putin Signals Conditional Willingness For Talks With Zelensky

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he is prepared to meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, but only under conditions that ensure substantive negotiations rather than symbolic gestures.

Addressing reporters in Beijing at the close of his state visit to China on Wednesday, Putin said any such meeting would require “proper preparation” and a realistic chance of success. He added that former U.S. President Donald Trump had recently asked him about the possibility of talks with Zelensky.

The remarks highlight a recurring tension in the two-year conflict: Ukraine’s calls for direct dialogue to halt the fighting versus Moscow’s insistence on dictating the terms. Putin further questioned Zelensky’s authority, suggesting his mandate had expired in 2024, despite Ukraine’s constitution allowing presidential tenure to continue under martial law.

The Kremlin’s position underscores both its tactical use of diplomacy and its ongoing battlefield pressure, leaving little indication that a peace settlement is near.

Leave a Reply