Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his readiness to meet with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow, Reuters reports. However, he specified that it remains to be seen whether such a meeting is worthwhile, News.bg reports.
Zelensky is insisting on a conversation with Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal. US President Donald Trump, who is trying to mediate a peace agreement, has also indicated that he wants the two leaders to meet.
„As for a meeting with Zelensky, I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But does it make sense? "Let's see," Putin said, reiterating the Kremlin's position that the meeting should be well-prepared and produce tangible results.
The Russian leader added that in his opinion Ukraine must lift martial law, hold elections and a referendum on territorial issues if it wants to make progress. Russia claims it annexed four Ukrainian regions in 2022, a move Kiev and most Western countries reject as illegal and aggressive.
Putin is currently on a four-day official visit to China, where he visited Tianjin and Beijing at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. In Tianjin, he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, and in Beijing, he attended a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
In addition to the general events, the Russian president held bilateral meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Back in August, Putin proposed a meeting with Zelensky in Moscow during a phone call with Trump. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later said that such a meeting could only take place after "careful preparation" and "resolving the issue of Zelensky's legitimacy."