Ruckus over a Speedy Encounter: Opinions Divided Between Putin and Zelensky
In recent months, the bilateral talks between Kyiv and Moscow have been ongoing, yet little progress has been made since May. The stalemate comes as the Kremlin chief, Vladimir Putin, sees his troops advancing in eastern Ukraine, a development that has been met with resistance from Ukrainian forces, who are reportedly conducting drone strikes on refineries, energy facilities, and railway lines in Russia's hinterland.
The Russian advance is being paid for with heavy losses, a fact that may be contributing to the recent decrease in mobilization numbers. However, Moscow remains open to any format of talks, preferring negotiations at a lower level before the heads of state meet.
One such meeting has been proposed by US President Donald Trump, who has stated that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are supposed to meet within two weeks. The possible locations for this future conference include Switzerland, specifically Geneva, as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing a neutral country for the meeting.
The prospect of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky is not without its challenges. Russian propaganda portrays Zelensky in a negative light, calling him a "toxic figure," a Nazi, drug-addicted, and a puppet of the West. This portrayal would make a U-turn in their depiction of Zelensky difficult for Putin to explain to his audience.
Zelensky, a successful comedian and television maker before entering politics in 2019, has not shied away from criticizing Putin. He has accused Putin of terrorism and has called him an "idiot" at times. These remarks have added to the already tense relations between the two leaders.
However, a meeting between Putin and Zelensky would not be the first for the two leaders. They have met before, in 2019 in Paris, but the meeting did not result in any concessions from Putin. This has raised questions about the legitimacy of Zelensky's presidency, as Russian officials question his authority due to Ukrainian laws prohibiting elections during a war, with Zelensky's term due to end in 2024.
Meanwhile, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has blocked Ukraine's approximation to the EU, making Budapest an unlikely neutral place for a meeting. The ongoing bilateral talks between Kyiv and Moscow continue, with both sides seeking a resolution to the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether a meeting between Putin and Zelensky will take place and if it will lead to any significant progress in resolving the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
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