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The question is who will sign the documents.
The question is who will sign the documents.
What is happening?
During a meeting with the heads of international news agencies, Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about a lot of different things.
The situation in the Middle East, his relationship with Donald Trump, on speaking with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Meeting with Zelenskyy?
And he also touched on the possibility of meeting face to face with Ukrainian President, Volodomyr Zelenskyy.
Putin does not see Zelenskyy as the legitimate leader of Ukraine, and analysts have suggested, that could make Putin hesitant in meeting Zelenskyy face to face, as a meeting would validate Zelenskyys authority.
“Ready to meet with everyone”
“We are ready to meet, as I said, by the way, I am ready to meet with everyone, including Zelenskyy. Yes, that’s not the question,” Putin said during the meeting with the heads of the news agencies.
So what is the question yet?
According to Putin, if Ukraine trusts Zelenskyy to handle negotiations, they should send him.
But the Russian President added:
“When dealing with serious issues, it is important for us not to have a propaganda component, but a legal one.”
Won’t accept Zelenskyys signature
Putin then made the point, that a signature must be from legitimate authorities, hinting again at Putin’s view of Zelenskyy as legitimate.
Throw it all in the bin
According to Putin, if the person who signs any document is not legitimate, the “next one will come and throw it all in the bin”.
“But you can’t do that either, we’re dealing with serious issues,” he added.
Zelenskyys issued challenge
A week before the peace-talks between Ukraine and Russia in May, the Ukrainian President, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, issued a challenge to Putin to meet him face to face in Istanbul.
Zelenskyy showed up in Turkey, Putin didn’t.
“If only …”
Speeking to the European Political Community Summit (EPC) in Albania after the peace-talks, the Ukrainian President left no doubt who he thinks is to blame for the Istanbul-meeting not bearing fruit, stating “if only Putin hadn’t been afraid to come to Turkey”.