Analyzing the prospects of Zelensky-Putin meeting: Kremlin lowers expectations and adopts a policy of uncertainty
Statements from high-ranking Russian officials indicate that the Kremlin currently sees no need for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
According to CNN, Putin is not prepared to engage in a personal summit now or in the foreseeable future.
This conclusion was likely drawn after Putin’s advisor Yuri Ushakov announced that agreements had been reached with U.S.
President Donald Trump regarding the possibility of increasing the level of representation in the Russian-Ukrainian peace process.
Concurrently, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that Russia remains open to all negotiation formats, but any top-level summit must be carefully prepared.
Analysts believe that this approach serves to reduce high expectations internationally about a potential meeting between the leaders.
Such a meeting could symbolize Moscow’s recognition of Zelensky’s legitimacy, although Kremlin propaganda continues to label him a “Western puppet” and refuses to officially acknowledge him by name, instead referring to the “Kyiv regime.” Former advisor to Zelensky’s administration Orysia Lutsevych remarks that Putin would see an unsuccessful meeting with a leader he considers a “joke from a non-existent country” as a failure.
Nonetheless, Moscow does not openly pursue a meeting, and it appears that U.S.
President Donald Trump might serve as an informal mediator — his support is viewed as crucial for progressing negotiations.
Political analyst Tetyana Stanova highlights that Putin perceives a direct meeting with Zelensky as unnecessary because his main focus remains confrontation with the West and maintaining regional influence.
However, with guarantees that Moscow’s territorial demands will be addressed, he might reconsider.
It is widely believed that in the near future, Russia could send senior officials such as Lavrov and Ushakov to Istanbul for negotiations, but without guaranteed success, Moscow is not genuinely eager to hold a summit.
Moreover, Trump, who initially hinted at a meeting, stated the next day that the decision should be made primarily by the leaders themselves.
Currently, Putin has no pressing incentives for such talks, as he benefits diplomatically from delaying sanctions without having to make concessions.
The main unresolved question remains: whom will Trump blame for the failure of negotiations? As for the timing and location of potential Zelensky-Putin talks, no official information is available, but diplomatic sources suggest possible venues like Geneva, Budapest, Minsk, or Rome, with the hope of evolving into a tripartite summit involving Trump after successful bilateral negotiations.