Putin Sets Condition for Zelensky Meeting

(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled openness to a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but set a firm condition: such an encounter would only take place once a comprehensive, long-term peace agreement is fully drafted and ready for signatures.

"The Ukrainian side and Mr. Zelensky, they are ready to have a personal meeting... We have never refused," Putin said at a press conference held following Moscow's Victory Day celebrations on May 9. "We can meet in the third country as well, but only after there is an ultimate agreement regarding a peace deal that must be a long-term deal."

Putin was unambiguous that any summit should serve strictly as a signing ceremony — not a negotiating session. Drawing on the failed Minsk Accords experience, he cautioned against open-ended leader-level talks.

"We can speak hours, day and night and it would yield no results. We need specialists to take care of that... then we can meet, we can sign," he said.

He stressed that the meeting should be the "final thing" — a ceremonial conclusion to a deal hammered out by technical teams, not a forum for further discussion.

During the same May 9 briefing, Putin declared that the Ukraine conflict "is heading towards the end" — remarks that came just one day after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that Moscow's May 8 ceasefire declaration could accelerate a cessation of hostilities.

Last December, Putin had similarly affirmed that Russia seeks a peaceful resolution to the conflict, contingent on addressing what the Kremlin describes as the war's root causes.

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