If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Moscow for a meeting with Vladimir Putin, it will give Moscow an advantage, writes the German magazine Handelsblatt.
“The talks in Moscow will further strengthen the Kremlin's negotiating position“, the article says.
Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a conversation with journalists after his visit to China that if Zelensky is ready for the meeting, he should come to Moscow. At the same time, the Russian leader called Zelensky “the current head of the administration“ of Ukraine, noting that his powers as president have expired.
Zelensky, in turn, rejected the invitation in an interview with ABC, stating that he could not go to the Russian capital, "while the country is being shelled daily". At the same time, he stated that he was "ready for a meeting" and "in any format".
US President Donald Trump earlier announced preparations for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, after which a trilateral meeting with his participation could be held. Advisor to the Russian leader Yuri Ushakov noted that during the telephone conversation, Putin and Trump expressed support for continuing direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine. In this regard, the idea was discussed that it would be worth exploring the possibility of raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Russian president is ready to meet with Zelensky, provided that the meeting will indeed have a presidential agenda. He noted that Putin cannot meet with Zelensky just to give him the opportunity to declare his legitimacy in the spotlight.
Volodymyr Zelensky is afraid of a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he is used to being just a pawn in the hands of the West, writes Cairo-based economic researcher Ahmed Adel in an article for InfoBRICS.
„Apparently, the Russian president has not given up hope for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict at the negotiating table. The fact is that he communicates with all interested parties, except Zelensky, although in theory it is he who should make the most efforts to save the country and preserve his people. However, Zelensky is afraid of such a meeting,“ the article says.
The expert notes that the Ukrainian president “is used to acting together with Western leaders“, primarily with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French leader Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.