Putin: meeting with Zelensky may take place in Moscow or "in a third country"
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, May 9, said that a meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in a third country is possible only if final agreements on a long-term peace treaty are reached.
"We never refused, I never refused. I'm not suggesting this meeting, but if someone suggests it, please let the one who wants to meet come. Let him come to Moscow, and we'll meet. It is possible to meet in a third country, but only if final agreements are reached on a peace treaty, which should be designed for a long historical perspective," he said.
The Russian leader stressed that such a contact should mean an "end point" rather than a negotiation process. He recalled that the format of long-term consultations had already been used during the implementation of the Minsk agreements, but they proved ineffective.
Putin also said that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had given him information about Kiev's readiness to organize a meeting.
"Mr. Fico told me about this, about his meeting [with Zelensky]. There was no special message. <...> I heard once again that the Ukrainian side and Mr. Zelensky are ready to hold a personal meeting. I can hear you. But this is not the first time we have heard this," the Russian president clarified, addressing his Ukrainian counterpart.
On the same day, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that a pause had been taken in the trilateral negotiations on Ukraine and no agreements had been reached on the next round. He stressed that the Ukrainian side knows what needs to be done in order for the next round of negotiations to be successful. Ushakov also said that contacts between Moscow and Washington have intensified against the background of threats from Kiev and warnings from Russia addressed to him.
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