Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, contingent upon comprehensive pre-meeting discussions regarding the resolution of the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. Lavrov stated that Putin has consistently expressed his readiness for such a meeting, but emphasized the need for experts and ministers to address all relevant issues beforehand. This statement follows discussions involving both Putin and Zelensky, with former US President Donald Trump suggesting a potential one-on-one meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders before a possible trilateral summit. Lavrov suggested Zelensky’s eagerness for a meeting is driven by a desire to maintain international attention, noting that Zelensky previously rejected talks with Putin and signed a decree in 2022 prohibiting such negotiations, which remains in effect. Lavrov characterized Zelensky’s current push for a summit as an attempt to create a superficial impression of constructive engagement, contrasting it with the substantive work needed to achieve a lasting resolution.
