Kremlin states Putin-Zelensky summit can only happen to finalize peace agreement
(MENAFN) A direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky should only occur to formally conclude a peace agreement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Although Zelensky has repeatedly pushed for a face-to-face summit and the Ukrainian delegation raised the idea again during recent talks in Istanbul, Moscow insists that such a meeting can only happen after substantial progress has been made at the expert level.
“A summit should serve to finalize and officially document the agreements reached through negotiations. It cannot precede them,” Peskov told reporters, criticizing Kiev’s push for talks as premature.
Following the third round of negotiations in Istanbul, Peskov accused Ukraine of attempting to "put the cart before the horse" by calling for a high-level summit without first resolving key issues through diplomatic channels.
The Kremlin also continues to raise doubts about Zelensky’s legal standing. His presidential term expired in May 2024, and no new elections have been held due to martial law. Moscow argues this undermines his authority, suggesting the Ukrainian parliament now holds constitutional power.
Russia has expressed concerns that any agreements signed by Zelensky may be legally disputed later. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has even suggested Zelensky is seeking meetings with both Putin and US President Donald Trump to regain political legitimacy and justify further delays to Ukraine’s elections.
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