Vladimir Putin claims he “doesn’t see much point” in meeting Volodymyr Zelensky for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The Russian despot‘s four-word verdict is yet another blow to hopes of a meeting between the two leaders and comes a day after the latest gathering of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’, led by the UK and France.
He claimed it is “practically impossible” to strike a peace deal with Ukraine despite continued efforts from the West. The Russian President said: “I have said many times that I am ready for these contacts [with Mr Zelensky]. I don’t see much point in them… because it will be practically impossible to reach an agreement with the Ukrainian side on key issues: even if there is political will, which I doubt, there are legal and technical difficulties.”
He also reiterated his offer, which has been rejected by Mr Zelensky, of holding talks in Moscow.
“We will definitely provide conditions for work and safety,” Mr Putin proclaimed. “100% guarantee.”
The comments, which came after Kyiv’s air force said Moscow fired 157 drones and seven missiles overnight, echo those made by Mr Putin’s close ally Sergei Lavrov last week.
The Kremlin’s foreign minister claimed nothing was planned between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky, adding the “agenda is not ready at all”.
The White House said it was working on talks between the two leaders following two separate summits held in the US last month.
On Friday, Mr Putin also poured cold water over proposals to put a Western peacekeeping force in Ukraine if an end to the fighting was agreed.
In a chilling message to the West, he warned any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine would become “legitimate targets”.
“And if decisions are reached that lead to peace, to long-term peace, then I simply do not see any sense in their presence on the territory of Ukraine, full stop,” Mr Putin warned as he spoke at an economic forum in Russia’s eastern Vladivostok region.
It came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 of Ukraine’s allies had pledged to deploy troops by land, sea or air to help guarantee the country’s security the day after a ceasefire or peace is achieved.
American officials said Mr Putin agreed at his summit in Alaska with Donald Trump that the US and its European allies could offer Ukraine a NATO-like security guarantee as part of an eventual peace deal.
The Russian leader has made it clear to the US President that he wants Ukraine to give up the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas, according to European officials.
Mr Zelensky has made it clear only he and his Russian counterpart can discuss territorial concessions.