Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had read an open letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and responded to several points raised in it, including references to his age, years in power and the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin said he had reviewed the letter on the morning of June 5.
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According to Putin, one of the issues raised in the letter was his age.
“Of course, everyone should think about age, but it seems to me that at my age many other political figures are carrying out their duties, and some are older than me. The main thing is not age. It is important, of course, but the main thing is capability and efficiency,” he said, according to RBC-Ukraine.
Putin also said he was affected by Zelensky’s reference to the length of time he has been in power.
“This is an important question, but one must go to elections. One should not be afraid of elections and should always act within the framework of the basic law. Because if one retains power outside the constitution, this is called usurpation of power; it is a criminal offense,” Putin said.
Ukraine has not held presidential elections since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Under Ukrainian law, elections cannot be held while martial law is in effect. Ukrainian officials have also argued that organizing a nationwide vote during wartime would be impractical due to ongoing security risks, the presence of millions of refugees abroad, Russian occupation of parts of the country, and the challenge of ensuring participation for military personnel serving on the front lines.
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Putin added that he was surprised discussions about holding elections in Ukraine had previously been raised but had since largely disappeared.
Putin also claimed that Ukraine wanted only European countries, and not the United States, to serve as guarantors of possible peace agreements. In that context, he referred to the dispute between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House.
The Russian leader further said that a representative of Russian business circles who, according to him, does not maintain close contacts with the Kremlin, had been invited to Kyiv about three weeks ago and met with Zelensky.
According to Putin, the businessman later conveyed that Zelensky had requested a meeting.
“I replied that I had never refused. But meeting simply to move things from one empty place to another, I know this, I have been through it,” Putin said.
He referred to the Minsk agreements, saying negotiations had continued through the night and later proved unsuccessful.
Putin added that he does not see a reason for such a meeting and claimed that its purpose for Ukraine would be to halt Russia’s offensive.
Zelensky’s Letter to Putin and Peace Talk Offer
On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky published a letter addressed to Russian leader Vladimir Putin calling for a one-on-one meeting, Europe’s participation in peace talks, and a full ceasefire amid heavy Russian battlefield losses and continued missile attacks on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s former foreign minister said the letter is addressed not only to Putin but also to US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian society, and Europe, while analysts asserted that it is also a statement pointing to Putin’s failures.
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