Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he is not against holding a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky after a final agreement on resolving the Ukraine issue is reached. A few hours after the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, he appeared before journalists and answered questions about the Ukrainian conflict, potential negotiations, and a final agreement.
Putin emphasized that if Zelensky wants to meet with him personally, Russia has never refused such a dialogue. He even remarked that "whoever wants to, can come to Moscow." At the same time, the Russian leader said he is not against the meeting being held in another country.
However, Putin stressed that such a meeting should not be for ordinary negotiations, but for signing a document that has already been prepared and agreed upon. In his view, dialogue at the level of heads of state should serve as the final point.
"This meeting should be the final point. Because we know what negotiations are. I learned this personally during the negotiations in Minsk. You talk for hours, day and night, without stopping, but it is of no use," said the Russian president.
According to Putin, experts, diplomats, and working groups must first work on documents that are understandable and acceptable to both sides. Only then can the leaders meet anywhere to sign the agreement or participate in the signing process.
During the briefing, the Russian leader also said that the conflict in Ukraine is nearing its end. Although he emphasized that the process remains serious and complex, he stated that the situation has reached a certain stage.
Putin also recalled that in 2022, an agreement between Russia and Ukraine was close in Istanbul. He said that at that time, the parties had reached an agreement on certain documents, but then the situation changed. The Russian leader noted that French President Emmanuel Macron called him and said that Ukraine could not sign such historical documents "with a gun to its head."
Putin stated that according to that agreement, Russia was supposed to withdraw its troops from around Kyiv, and Moscow had agreed to this. But then the then-Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson, said that it was impossible to sign this agreement with Russia because it was unfair.
Commenting on this situation, the Russian president raised the question of who should determine whether it is fair or unfair if the Ukrainian side's representative had approved the documents. He claimed that the confrontation intensified as a result of the interference of Western politicians.
"If the representative of the Ukrainian side approved these documents, who determines whether it is fair or unfair? What is unfair here, who decides this?" said Putin.
In his opinion, the confrontation with Russia escalated after aid was promised to Ukraine. Putin said that this process is still ongoing, but the work is nearing its end.
So far, there is no precise information on when and where a potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin might take place. But the Russian leader's statement shows that Moscow prefers such a dialogue only after a final agreement is ready.
The situation surrounding the Ukrainian conflict remains complex. Any diplomatic signal between the parties is being watched with great attention on the international stage, as the fate of this war affects not only Russia and Ukraine but also the security of all of Europe and the global political balance.
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