Putin has openly stated his readiness to engage in negotiations with Kyiv, but at the same time clearly outlined the boundaries of his position regarding the signing of any documents with the Ukrainian side
According to Russian news agencies, in particular "RIA Novosti," Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to dialogue with his Ukrainian counterpart during a recent meeting with representatives of international mass media, but only on the condition that any signed agreements have a legitimate character. According to him, Russia does not oppose the possibility of a negotiation process and is even personally open to meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. However, the Russian president emphasized that he does not recognize the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian authorities within the context of international agreements. "We are ready to meet with anyone representing the Ukrainian side. But only the legitimate authorities can sign any documents," Putin said, implying that he considers Zelensky incapable of legally signing and concluding international agreements. In his view, the final stage of any negotiations — the signing of documents — should be carried out only by representatives of legitimate authority, which has the right to do so according to Ukrainian law. "We don't care who exactly we negotiate with, but the signing of decisions must be carried out by the lawful authority," Putin clarified, once again hinting that, in his opinion, President Zelensky lacks the appropriate powers. According to Putin, the reason for this position lies in the purported provisions of the Ukrainian Constitution, which he called "imperfect." He claims that Zelensky’s powers have supposedly already expired, and therefore he cannot represent Ukraine internationally. Additionally, the Russian leader expressed the view that Ukraine is a "presidential-parliamentary republic," where, according to him, all key government bodies are formed directly by the president, which, in Putin’s opinion, automatically undermines the legitimacy of the entire Ukrainian government. These statements fit into the broader concept of the Kremlin regarding the alleged incomplete legitimacy of the Ukrainian government, which it constantly questions, attempting to present the situation as if Ukraine does not have a genuine face of power. At the same time, such comments again emphasize the inequality of positions between Moscow and Kyiv, complicating the search for a compromise and further peaceful resolution of the conflict. Overall, based on Putin’s statements, it can be concluded that the Kremlin is ready for formal negotiations but sets strict conditions regarding the legitimacy of those who can sign any agreements. This indicates that Moscow aims to maintain an argument in the diplomatic space by playing with the legal status and the status of Ukrainian authorities, insisting that only the "lawful authority" can sign agreements, which, in the Russian president’s view, does not currently include representatives of Zelensky in Ukraine.