Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly suggested holding a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow, according to diplomatic sources cited by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday. The proposal was made during a recent phone call between Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a potential shift in the Kremlin’s approach to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However President Zelensky said “No”. Naturally.
The revelation comes amid renewed international efforts to encourage dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv, as the war in Ukraine enters a critical phase. However, official Russian statements remain cautious and non-committal.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refused to confirm any imminent summit between Putin and Zelensky. Speaking to state media, Lavrov neither confirmed nor ruled out the possibility of further negotiations but emphasized the importance of careful preparation before any high-level talks.
“Any contacts involving top officials must be prepared with the utmost care,” Lavrov stated. He reiterated that Moscow remains open to various formats of engagement bilateral or multilateral, but stopped short of endorsing a direct meeting between the two leaders.
The ambiguity comes after Trump hosted a meeting with Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House on Monday, underscoring Washington’s continued interest in facilitating dialogue. Following that meeting, Trump spoke with Putin by phone to explore the possibility of a direct summit between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, according to a report by CNN.
Despite speculation, the Kremlin has only indicated a willingness to “elevate the level” of the Russian delegation in ongoing talks with Ukraine, without explicitly confirming that President Putin himself is ready to meet with Zelensky.
Analysts view Putin’s reported proposal, if confirmed, as a potentially significant development in the standoff, especially given the high stakes and prolonged nature of the conflict. However, skepticism remains high over Moscow’s true intentions, particularly in light of its previous hesitancy toward one-on-one talks with Kyiv’s leadership.
The prospect of a Putin-Zelensky meeting remains uncertain, hinging on a range of geopolitical, security, and diplomatic considerations. For now, the ball appears to be in Russia’s court to clarify its position and move beyond ambiguous diplomatic signals.
