Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to engage in negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “if necessary,” despite continuing doubts over Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, according to the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the statement on Tuesday, underlining that while Putin is open to talks with the Ukrainian leader, the legal framework for any potential agreements remains uncertain.
"Putin himself said that he would be ready to negotiate with Zelenskyy if necessary, but the legal basis of such agreements needs thorough discussion, particularly in light of the fact that Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as president can be questioned," Peskov told reporters.
The comments came on the heels of high-stakes talks between top U.S. and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia, the first such meeting since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the significant nature of the encounter, both sides were quick to downplay expectations of any major breakthroughs in resetting their fractured relations.
The meeting took place at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sat across from each other, accompanied by senior aides.
The two countries’ representatives refrained from making any statements before the meeting, and a formal handshake was notably absent. Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, also participated in the talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, criticized the exclusion of Kyiv from the discussions, stating that Ukraine had no knowledge of the meeting and would not accept any agreements made about its future without its participation. “We, as a sovereign country, simply will not be able to accept any agreements without us,” Zelenskyy said in an interview.
As tensions remain high over the war in Ukraine, European leaders met in Paris on Monday for emergency talks, voicing their concerns over the shift in U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, who has shown a willingness to engage with Moscow. Trump, now in his second term, has expressed his desire for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict, even as Russia views his outreach as an opportunity to secure concessions.
While diplomatic channels are open, the war continues to rage in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military reported overnight drone attacks from Russian forces, with at least 176 drones launched at Kyiv. Fortunately, most were destroyed or disabled by Ukrainian air defenses, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Kremlin has reiterated its stance that a long-term resolution to the conflict is unattainable without addressing broader European security concerns. It reiterated that while Ukraine has the sovereign right to pursue membership in the European Union, it remains firmly opposed to Kyiv joining NATO.
Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government have consistently rejected any territorial concessions, while Russia maintains its demands for Ukrainian withdrawal from key areas. Despite the ongoing violence, international efforts to broker peace continue, with talks between the U.S. and Russia signaling the possibility of future negotiations.
