Putin's Readiness for Dialogue: No More Games with Merz and Zelenskyy... But with Conditions
Dialogue open between Putin and Zelensky - Discourse potential between the two leaders - Open Dialogue Proposal by Putin, Extending Possibilities for Discussion With Zelensky
Hey there! Let's dive into the latest Moscow scoop on Putin's chats with the who's who of global politics. Sure, I've got the 411!
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he's down for some chinwags with the likes of Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy—under certain strict terms.
Germany in Putin's Crosshairs
In Merz's case, if he gives Putin a call, Russia's ear is all his! Putin delicately told the DPA news agency in a chat in St. Petersburg: "We're always open to that!"
Putin's not too fond of Merz's war on the Ukraine. The Kremlin bigwig slammed Germany for being on Ukraine's side, arming 'em up, and getting involved in the strife.
Now, this is Putin's first public comment on Merz since the latter's May election. Merz has failed to get Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Russia's bloody conflict with Ukraine so far. Germany-Russia relations are currently at an all-time low. Moscow's a tad peeved, accusing Merz of being dead set against Russia. Russia raises a red flag over arms shipments to Ukraine, particularly the Taurus cruise missile, which they reckon may be used to attack Russian territory. Putin stated that German aid wouldn't sway the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine.
More on the negative side, Moscow recalls a slew of unfriendly actions Russia's been blamed for: cyberattacks on the Bundestag, the murder of a Georgian by a Russian spy, an arson attack on a cargo plane, and recent espionage activities against the Bundeswehr.
Putin's Meeting with Zelenskyy - All Conditions Apply
Putin's also open to a tête-à-tête with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, he underlined his most significant condition: Who's gonna sign that peace treaty?
Putin cast aspersions on Zelenskyy's qualifications for penning a peace settlement. His five-year term expired last year, but Zelenskyy's hanging on to power in the midst of ongoing hostilities.
Now, Putin supports ongoing negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The latest round of talks in Istanbul, held under Turkey's mediation, need a continue till June 22nd. Putin shared some good news from the latest talks: consequences in the areas of humanitarian aid, such as prisoner swap and the return of fallen soldiers' remains.
Putin's Q&A Session with Western Journos
Putin locked horns with a phalanx of Western journalists for the traditional Q&A sesh, resuming at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in the revamped conservatory of the bustling metropolis. Putin's spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, noted that Putin desires to present Russia's position without any filtering in his dialogues with Western news agencies.
The SPIEF is more about Russia putting its best foot forward and bucking the international isolation the West preaches. It's also a nifty loophole to board around sanctions imposed on the resource-blessed nation. Moscow argues that these sanctions are unlawful. A business conversation between Russia and the U.S., following the cozying up of both nations under U.S. President Donald Trump, is on the day's agenda.
This year, an estimated 20,000 participants from 140 countries are expected to splash cash at Russia's largest economic expo, concluding on Saturday, according to organizers. As per tradition, Putin is slated to address the forum on Friday with a speech on economic policies, taking questions on a panel afterwards.
Even with restricted economic ties, plenty of business tycoons from Western nations will attend this event. Although Russia is experiencing robust growth due to its war economy and commodity sales, it's grappling with monetary challenges such as high inflation and a high-interest rate, which makes investment costly.
PS: Putin's meeting with Zelenskyy will only happen once negotiations reach a conclusive phase, with a tangible ending to the conflict in sight, rather than engaging in protracted talks or preliminary discussions.
The Commission has also adopted a proposal for a regulation on the establishment of a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States, as Poland and other Eastern European nations grapple with the influx of refugees from war-and-conflicts zones, exacerbated by Russia's ongoing military involvements. Meanwhile, in the realm of policy-and-legislation, discussions around the future of Eastern Europe and its relations with Russia continue to remain a contentious topic in general-news discourse.
