Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet with Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky if all the issues related to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev are resolved through expert and ministerial discussions. The statement was made in response to recent developments regarding the possibility of direct talks between the two leaders. Lavrov noted that the Ukrainian leader, Zelensky, is pushing for such a meeting to remain in the spotlight and is concerned about declining international attention.
Zelensky, who recently visited Washington, has been actively seeking dialogue with Putin, even though he previously rejected such talks and had signed a decree in 2022 banning negotiations. This decree has not been revoked as of now. Lavrov criticized Zelensky’s efforts, suggesting that the meeting is more about maintaining public attention rather than focusing on the serious work needed to resolve the conflict. The Ukrainian leader is said to be attempting to replace genuine efforts with theatrical displays reminiscent of his earlier career as a comedian.
In addition to the discussion on the meeting, the US President Donald Trump suggested that the Russian and Ukrainian leaders should hold a one-on-one meeting before a potential trilateral summit with himself. During their phone call, Putin and Trump supported the idea of continuing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, which have been ongoing since May in Istanbul. They also discussed the possibility of raising the level of officials participating in these talks.
Moscow insists that any lasting settlement must address the root causes of the conflict, including the security concerns of Russia, the recognition of current territorial realities, and the status of Crimea and the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia in 2022. These conditions reflect Moscow’s stance on resolving the conflict through diplomatic means while ensuring its security and territorial integrity.