Zelensky: Ready for Putin Meeting, Even Without a Ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire before talks.

“Are we ready to meet at the leadership level without a ceasefire? I would say yes,” Zelensky said during a press conference to Ukrinform.

The Ukrainian leader had previously insisted that a ceasefire should precede any negotiations with Russia.

“I believe that if there is no position on a ceasefire, sanctions should be imposed. In general, I believe that sanctions should be imposed if Russia does not want to end the war. But, again, the American side says: wait, this is too much, we need to find a compromise. And no matter how we feel about this, we think - okay,” Zelensky continued.

Recent rounds of negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2 produced prisoner exchanges but no real movement towards a ceasefire.

Russia continues planning for its summer offensive by amassing troops, and on Monday, Russia finally submitted its memorandum for peace negotiations to Ukraine, which include territorial concessions beyond what Russia currently controls, a veto over NATO membership for Ukraine, and limits on the size and capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces.

US President Donald Trump has consistently argued that he could negotiate peace in a direct meeting with Putin, or in a trilateral meeting with the leaders of the US, Ukraine and Russia, but Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that a meeting between the leaders is ‘unlikely anytime soon.’

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