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Everything considered, it’s not very likely to happen any time soon.
Everything considered, it’s not very likely to happen any time soon.
What is happening?
The Kremlin has stated that a high-level meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy can only take place as the concluding step in a peace process, not as a starting point.
No Putin-Zelenskiy Meeting in August
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea of a leaders’ summit by the end of August—Ukraine’s preferred timeline—as unrealistic.
“Is it possible to go through such a complex process in 30 days? Obviously, it is unlikely,” he told reporters according to Reuters.
Need for Expert Agreements First
According to Peskov, any summit should serve to ratify agreements already crafted by negotiating teams.
“It is impossible to do it the other way round,” he said.
Ukraine Pushes for a Breakthrough at the Top
Ukrainian officials argue that a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy is essential to inject momentum into the sluggish peace talks.
They believe only a direct dialogue between leaders can move the process forward.
Zelenskiy cautiously optimistic
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy sounded a cautiously optimistic note, saying Moscow had begun to show willingness to discuss the possibility of a summit.
“This is already progress toward some kind of meeting format,” he told journalists.
Peace Talks Have Been Brief and Inconclusive
Since mid-May, Russia and Ukraine have held just three sessions of peace talks, all in Turkey.
These meetings have been short-lived and yielded little progress.
Kyiv Links Timeline to U.S. Deadline
Ukraine’s proposal for an August summit was partly driven by external pressure.
A Ukrainian delegate noted the timing would fit within the 50-day window set by U.S. President Donald Trump for reaching a deal.
U.S. Pressure Mounts on Russia
President Trump has warned of further sanctions on Russia—and on countries buying its exports—if a peace agreement is not struck by early September.
Kremlin: Positions Still Worlds Apart
Despite recent talks, Peskov said the two countries remain far apart on key issues.
“It is unlikely that they can be brought together overnight,” he remarked, calling for “very complex diplomatic work” to bridge the gap.
