Putin open to face-to-face meeting with Zelensky — but only if certain conditions are met
Putin 'does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting,' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media on Monday.
3 Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Aug. 4.
AP
3 Aftermath of a Russian attack on a residential building in Kramatorsk, Ukraine on Aug. 2.
Jose Hernandez/Shutterstock
'But only after the necessary work is done at the expert level and the appropriate distance is overcome,' he added, without saying exactly what conditions must be met.
Peace talks in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine have stalled — and Putin has said that Ukraine is not yet ready for negotiations, according to the Kyiv Post.
3 Volodymyr Zelensky pays tribute to victims on Aug. 1.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images
Last week, the Russian leader said that his demands for Ukraine, which he first outlined in summer 2024, remain unchanged.
The authoritarian has said Russia is seeking a 'long-term, lasting peace' rather than simply a pause for rearmament.
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