Putin Expresses Readiness to Talk with Zelenskyy
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to engage in negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “if necessary,” despite ongoing doubts over Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, according to the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that while Putin is open to talks with the Ukrainian leader, the legal framework for any potential agreements remains uncertain.
“Putin himself has said that he is ready to negotiate with Zelenskyy if necessary, but the legal foundation of such agreements requires thorough discussion, especially given the questions surrounding Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as president,” Peskov told reporters.
This statement came following high-level talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia, marking the first such meeting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, both sides played down expectations of any major breakthroughs in restoring their strained relations. The meeting took place at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sat across from each other, accompanied by senior aides.
Neither side issued statements before the meeting, and a formal handshake was notably absent. Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, also participated in the discussions.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy criticized Kyiv’s exclusion from the talks, stating that Ukraine had no prior knowledge of the meeting and would not accept any agreements made without its involvement. “As a sovereign nation, we simply cannot accept any agreements that exclude us,” Zelenskyy said in an interview.
Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, European leaders convened in Paris on Monday for emergency talks, raising concerns over shifts in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, who has shown a willingness to engage with Moscow. Trump, now in his second term, has expressed a desire for a swift resolution to the war, while Russia views his approach as an opportunity to gain concessions.
Despite diplomatic channels remaining open, the war continues. Ukraine’s military reported overnight drone attacks from Russian forces, with at least 176 drones launched at Kyiv. Fortunately, most were intercepted or disabled by Ukrainian air defenses.
The Kremlin has reiterated its stance that a long-term resolution to the conflict is unattainable without addressing broader European security concerns. While acknowledging Ukraine’s sovereign right to seek European Union membership, Russia remains firmly opposed to Kyiv joining NATO.
Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government have consistently rejected any territorial concessions, while Russia continues to demand Ukraine’s withdrawal from key areas. Despite the ongoing hostilities, international efforts to broker peace persist, with U.S.-Russia talks hinting at the possibility of future negotiations.
