Putin rejects Zelenskyy’s call for direct talks, insisting no meeting is needed yet and signalling negotiations can only follow progress on a concrete peace framework, reports Asian Lite News Desk
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out the possibility of a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he currently sees “no reason” for face-to-face talks despite Kyiv’s renewed push for negotiations.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Putin dismissed Zelenskyy’s recent proposal for a personal meeting aimed at ending the war, arguing that such an encounter would serve little purpose at this stage of the conflict.
“I don’t see the point of a meeting,” Putin said during the plenary session. He suggested that any direct engagement between the two leaders would primarily benefit Ukraine by halting Russian military advances, rather than contributing meaningfully to a resolution.
The Russian leader stressed that substantive progress must first be made at the technical level. “It is necessary to let specialists work, develop solutions, and then we can meet,” he said, indicating that a leaders’ summit would only be viable once a framework for a peace agreement is already in place.
Putin also downplayed Zelenskyy’s outreach, revealing that he had only briefly reviewed the Ukrainian president’s open letter proposing talks. According to the Kremlin leader, the letter contained elements he described as “rudeness”, raising doubts about Kyiv’s intent.
“Is it a way to create conditions for a meeting and negotiations, or to create a context in which any meeting becomes impossible? I believe it is the second option,” Putin said, suggesting that the tone of the communication undermined its diplomatic purpose.
Despite rejecting immediate talks, Putin reiterated Moscow’s position that the conflict would eventually end, though only once Russia’s objectives are achieved. “Military actions will end sooner or later… once the objectives we have set for ourselves are achieved,” he said.
Zelenskyy, in his letter, had urged direct engagement between the two leaders, warning against delaying efforts to resolve the war. He proposed neutral venues including Switzerland, Turkey and countries in the Arab world as potential hosts for peace talks.
