Kremlin discusses potential dialogue between Putin and Zelensky
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Got some juicy details about the potential Russia-Ukraine meeting, eh? Let's dish!
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's official mouthpiece, just dropped a bombshell at a press briefing on May 17, 2025. According to him, a sit-down between Russia and Ukraine might happen, but it's only if Moscow gets its way.
The key stumbling block for Russia? Who'll put their John Hancock on Ukraine's part of the deal. Peskov made that crystal clear during the press conference, as reported by "Izvestia."
On May 16, 2025, reps from Russia and Ukraine agreed to lay out their ideas for a truce and exchange prisoners in a 1000-for-1000 fashion.
Lemme fill you in on what went down earlier. On May 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Putin's peace offering. He called it good news and shared his hopes for upcoming developments. Then, ol' pal Erdogan announced he'd be ready to facilitate gab sessions between the two nations. Trump jumped on the bandwagon, urging Kiev to accept Putin's proposal for talks in Turkey.
So, what gives? Well, while Zelensky wants to huddle with Putin, the Kremlin ain't ready to see him as an equal. Putin would only agree to a meet 'n' greet under conditions that seem to suggest Ukraine's surrender.
At previous powwows in Istanbul, the Russian team was headed by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky. This suggests that either Medinsky or another designated bigwig might be the one to square off against the Ukrainians.
Peskov underlined that, for Moscow, it's essential to know who's going to sign any ceasefire papers for Ukraine, stressing the significance of signatures and official approvals in the process.
In a nutshell, Peskov's the email correspondent, but the real Russian heavyweight at the negotiation table has been Medinsky or other designated officials. The chief condition Russia keeps banging on about is clarity on who seals the deal, symbolizing their demand for official and recognized signatories.
Until Putin sees a reason to shake hands with Zelensky, the heavy lifting'll be done by Medinsky and Peskov during the negotiate-a-thon. But hey, sometimes you gotta break some eggs to make an omelette, right?
Sources:
- Izvestia: Kremlin open to meeting with Ukraine, but under conditions (May 17, 2025)
- Bloomberg: What Russia Really Wants at Talks With Ukraine (May 18, 2025)
- Kyiv Post: Zelensky says Ukraine ready to hold direct talks with Russia (May 11, 2025)
- Foreign Policy: The Curious Case of Putin's Negotiation Counterpart (May 18, 2025)
- Deutsche Welle: Putin-Zelensky meeting dependent on negotiations success (May 18, 2025)
The television news stations are abuzz with the potential Russia-Ukraine meeting, as Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's official spokesperson, recently stated that the encounter may occur under specific conditions. A key concern for Russia is securing a signature on Ukraine's part of the deal, as reported by "Izvestia." Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's willingness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin is reluctant to see him as an equal, purportedly demanding official and recognized signatories. This leaves the Russian heavyweights, such as Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, to perhaps lead the negotiations, as Putin continues to withhold a direct meeting with Zelensky.
