Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Potential Summit: Putin and Zelensky Meeting Hinges on Negotiation Progress
Following the initial direct discussions in three years concerning methods to resolve the conflict, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov has not dismissed the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The potential Putin-Zelensky meeting is contingent upon advancements in ongoing Ukraine-Russia negotiations.
Conditions for a Presidential Summit
Peskov indicated on Saturday that advancement in the discussions was a necessary condition, although he remained ambiguous regarding specifics. These remarks followed discussions conducted in Turkey the previous day.
- “A meeting of that nature, resulting from the work of both sides’ delegations, is achievable once these delegations arrive at specific accords,” Peskov stated, according to TASS, a Russian state news source.
Personnel Stability in Russian Delegation
Currently, no adjustments to the Russian delegation are scheduled, despite Zelensky’s critique that its members are insufficiently senior to finalize resolves. The composition of the Russian negotiation team remains unchanged.
Ukrainian Delegation’s Request
During the sessions between the opposing groups in Istanbul, the Ukrainian representatives requested a discussion between Putin and Zelensky, according to Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinski. “We have acknowledged this request,” Russian media later reported him as saying.
Ceasefire Conditions Still Under Development
The discussions held on Friday did not produce a major resolution to the crisis. Peskov emphasized that Moscow is developing a catalog of ceasefire terms to share and deliberate with the Ukrainian delegation.