Putin's Apprehension Towards Zelensky: Upcoming Summit with the Dismissed 'Nazi Comic' May Expose Putin's Shortcomings
In the wake of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a potential meeting between the two nations' leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymir Zelensky, is causing a stir.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymir Zelensky, rose to international fame with his role as an accidental president in the Ukrainian show Servant of the People. Despite having no political experience before becoming President, he has been at the forefront of the conflict, facing numerous challenges.
Their two countries have only met in person once before, and their first meeting occurred when Zelensky was the freshly elected President of Ukraine. The pair did not shake hands at their tense, fruitless meeting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, has been vocal about his desire for a meeting, stating that a meeting should be prepared gradually, starting with the expert level. However, Putin has shown little indication of making major concessions, with the handover of vast swathes of Ukrainian territory to Moscow being his core condition for peace.
The proposed location for the summit has been a point of contention. Switzerland, specifically Geneva, has been suggested as a neutral location, with French President Emmanuel Macron mentioning Geneva. Alaska, where a Trump-Putin meeting related to the conflict was held, has also been proposed. Hungary has expressed a willingness to host peace talks, but suggestions for the summit to be held in Budapest have been met with criticism from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Switzerland, Qatar, and Austria have also been floated as other prospective venues for the summit, but Putin may be wary of a European location due to the possibility of arrest under an ICC warrant. Putin has suggested the trilateral summit be held in Moscow, a proposal that is unacceptable for Ukraine.
The Russian despot ordered tanks to assault Kyiv in February 2022, plunging Europe into its bloodiest war since 1945. Putin's warped justification for the war was based on claims that Ukraine was a fake country run by Nazis, a claim that is patently absurd.
If Ukraine remains armed and sovereign, any concessions to Zelensky would indicate Putin's war goals as a failure. However, Putin may attempt to shift the blame to Zelensky if talks fail to avoid Trump's wrath.
Orysia Lutsevich, director of Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia program, stated that Putin "will have to accept the failure of sitting down with a President he considers a joke from a country that doesn't exist". The meeting between Putin and Zelensky would signify them as Presidents of legitimate, sovereign nations, a fact that the Kremlin's narrative cannot accept.
Zelensky's Jewish identity is used by Putin as a basis for his claim that Ukraine is run by Nazis, a claim that is widely regarded as absurd. Prior to his political career, Zelensky had a past career as an actor and comedian.
As the world watches, the stage is set for a tense and potentially historic meeting between Putin and Zelensky. The outcome of this meeting could have significant implications for the future of Ukraine and the wider region.
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