The Kremlin has downplayed discussions regarding a potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, coinciding with renewed calls from former U.S. President Donald Trump for the two leaders to meet to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This push for direct dialogue follows Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska last week and a previous welcoming of Zelensky and seven European leaders at the White House.
While Trump acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating that it was “possible” Putin might not be interested in a resolution, he noted that the upcoming weeks would reveal more about the Russian president’s intentions. Trump indicated that if Putin is resistant to negotiations, he could face significant challenges.
Putin expressed openness to direct talks, but his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, tempered that statement, suggesting that any meeting would require a cautious approach and necessary preliminary steps involving expert discussions. Lavrov’s comments echo a common sentiment from the Kremlin that meetings should not occur merely for dialogue’s sake. Additionally, a Russian UN representative mentioned that the opportunity for talks remains, but without a specific commitment to a meeting.
As discussions progressed, Trump shifted his focus from pursuing a ceasefire to advocating for a permanent peace agreement. He indicated a willingness for U.S. support in military terms, provided European nations contribute ground forces to Ukraine if an agreement is reached, although specifics on the nature of this support remained unclear.
In contrast, European leaders and Zelensky appear to be less optimistic about immediate prospects for peace. While Zelensky expressed openness to various meeting formats and European leaders advocated for a summit, there remains skepticism regarding Putin’s willingness to engage sincerely. High-level talks are planned in the coming days to address these developments as NATO military chiefs also convene to discuss security measures in Ukraine.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn92e52rpjxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss