Russia: Putin Ready to Meet Zelensky if All Issues Are Addressed First

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin is open to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but only if all issues related to the settlement of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are fully resolved beforehand. Lavrov clarified that Putin has repeatedly expressed his readiness to meet with Zelensky, provided that all significant matters requiring consideration at the highest level have been thoroughly addressed by experts and ministers. This follows recent discussions involving both leaders, with former US President Donald Trump suggesting a potential one-on-one meeting between them prior to a possible trilateral summit. Lavrov suggested Zelensky is motivated by a desire to keep the international community’s attention focused on him, pointing out that Zelensky previously rejected talks with Putin and signed a decree in 2022 banning such negotiations, which has not been rescinded. Lavrov criticized Zelensky’s push for a summit, seeing it as a superficial effort to appear constructive rather than undertaking the serious work necessary to achieve a stable resolution to the conflict.