Kremlin claims Putin is ready to meet Zelenskyy — but only in Moscow, and only to sign

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only to finalize agreements. Peskov made the remarks in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Vesti.

According to Peskov, Putin has repeatedly stated his readiness to hold such a meeting, and the outstanding question, in the Kremlin’s framing, is not willingness but purpose.

Peskov sets out the Kremlin’s conditions

“The main thing is the purpose of the meeting. What is there to meet for? Putin said he is ready to meet in Moscow at any moment. The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive, and it can only be to finalize agreements,” Peskov told Vesti.

The remarks tie the possibility of a leaders-level meeting to two conditions: that a negotiated outcome is already in place for the two presidents to sign, and that the summit is held on Russian territory.

Zelenskyy has named different venues

In February, Zelenskyy again said he was ready to meet Putin anywhere other than Russia or Belarus, proposing the United States, Europe, or any neutral state as acceptable venues.

Peskov said at the time that the Russian side would accept only one location for a summit: Moscow.

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