Russian President Vladimir Putin would be prepared to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky only to agree on final arrangements to end the war, not to conduct preliminary negotiations, Reuters reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders would be possible only after negotiators had reached agreements at lower levels, leaving the presidents to formally approve the outcome.
“The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive,” Peskov said, according to the report.
The comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to explore possible paths toward ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Kyiv has repeatedly said any negotiations must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity. Meanwhile, Moscow has insisted that talks reflect Russian historical narratives and territorial gains.
Earlier this month, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Office of the Presiden and key negotiator, said contacts involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US were ongoing, though he acknowledged that no final decisions had been made.
US envoys are planning to visit Putin, but there has been no indication of imminent direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow.