Russian President Vladimir Putin could be willing to meet with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky if one condition is met. The United States continues to pressure both sides to come to an agreement on a ceasefire in the conflict, US President Donald Trump recently threatening to impose 100% tariffs on Moscow if a deal is not reached by August 8.
The prospect of a pause in fighting has been discussed heavily since Trump returned to the White House, with no agreement forthcoming between the warring nations. Speaking earlier today, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the Russian leader could be open to meeting with Zelensky ahead of any peace negotiations. He said: “I would like to remind you that the president himself does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting.
“But only after the necessary work is done at the expert level and the appropriate distance is overcome.”
This work, according to Peskov, has yet to be undertaken.
Similar ceasefire proposals have been floated throughout the year, with Putin saying in March that he supported the idea in principle.
He said of a 30-day ceasefire proposal: “It is good and we absolutely support it but there are issues that we need to discuss,” before insisting that a number of “conditions need to be studied” with regards to how a ceasefire would be enforced along the frontline.
Last week the Russian leader said that his conditions for peace in Ukraine remain unchanged from those outlined last summer – conditions Ukraine was unwilling to consider.
Frustration is growing in Washington over the Kremlin’s obstruction of efforts to bring fighting to a close in the conflict, whether it be temporarily or permanently.
On Friday evening, Donald Trump responded to comments made by the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, by ordering that two nuclear submarines be positioned “in appropriate regions”.
Medvedev, who regularly posts inflammatory and hyperbolic statements online, had warned Trump to remember that Russia has Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort.
Trump responded on his social media platform Truth Social and said: “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
