Putin says there is no point meeting Zelensky as peace hopes fade

International

HOPES for a rare face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine faded after Vladimir Putin rejected Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for direct talks, deepening uncertainty over prospects for ending a war that has entered its fourth year.

The Russian president dismissed Zelensky’s proposal for a personal meeting during Russia’s annual economic forum in St Petersburg.

“I don’t see any point for now,” Putin said in a BBC report.

He questioned the purpose of the Ukrainian proposal and criticized the tone of Zelensky’s letter. Putin also reiterated Moscow’s position that substantive peace negotiations must precede any ceasefire agreement, arguing that a temporary truce would primarily benefit Ukraine while Russia’s demands remain unresolved.

The exchange followed an open letter from Zelensky published on Thursday, in which he called for direct negotiations with Putin and urged a ceasefire.

Zelensky said it was “wrong to simply wait” for the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, to again become a priority for the United States.

Responding to Putin’s remarks, Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately continuing the conflict.

“He just doesn’t want to end the war. I think that many in the world were disappointed by this answer,” he wrote on Telegram.

Zelensky’s letter also included criticism of Putin, suggesting that age was affecting his leadership after more than two decades in power. He referenced recent Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory, including one near St Petersburg that he described as “paying a visit.”

Putin said experts should first work on proposals for a long-term settlement before any meeting between the leaders could take place. He also said Russia would continue military operations until its stated objectives are achieved.

Moscow has long demanded that Ukraine withdraw from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and abandon its bid to join NATO. Ukraine rejects those conditions, arguing that territorial concessions would encourage future Russian aggression. Officials in Kyiv point to Russia’s 2022 invasion following its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Despite the lack of progress on talks, Zelensky’s proposal drew international attention. US President Donald Trump said “it would be great” if the two leaders met.

Fighting continued across multiple fronts.

Ukraine said it struck five vessels in the Sea of Azov and nearby waters carrying what it described as illegally transported cargo. Drone commander Robert Brovdi said the ships were involved in transporting grain, fuel and military supplies taken from occupied territories.

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry reported that five people were killed in attacks on two ships in the Sea of Azov. It did not say who was responsible and said the vessels were not Azerbaijani-owned.

Separately, Ukraine said one of its drones exploded in Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta after being affected by Russian electronic warfare systems.

Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes over the past 24 hours killed at least 13 people and injured 70 others, including four killed when a dairy factory outside Kyiv was hit and a 35-year-old woman killed in Kherson.(MyTVCebu)