Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was officially announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who noted that active preparations are underway for the bilateral meeting.
Rubio emphasized that such an event would be unprecedented, and if successful, the next meeting could involve Donald Trump. He added that the ultimate goal is to finalize an agreement between the parties.
At present, the Kremlin has not officially confirmed or denied the information about the upcoming meeting. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia never aimed to seize all of Donbas or Crimea, but is protecting "Russian peoples."
The US Secretary of State underlined that even if the meeting does not immediately bring peace, the very fact of dialogue is a significant step towards resolution. Experts suggest Russia may attempt to derail or delay the talks.
Zelensky, in turn, demonstrates calm and composure, ready to control his emotions during potentially difficult negotiations. It is expected that high professionalism will be required from him, as the Russian side might attempt provocations to increase the tension level.
The talks are anticipated to focus on territorial issues, prisoner exchanges, and general conditions for peace. The Ukrainian side insists that resolving such issues should only involve a legitimate parliament.
While there is still no clear official position on further steps, experts advise to wait for specifics after the personal meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.
