Zelensky Opens the Door to a Meeting with Putin... with a Key Condition

In a notable diplomatic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday that a direct meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, is not out of the question, but he set a crucial precondition. During a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky clarified that any potential meeting would only occur "after an agreement on security guarantees" for Ukraine has been reached.

Zelensky proposed several neutral locations to host these negotiations, including Switzerland, Austria, and Turkey, suggesting that these countries could provide a suitable environment for serious talks. He stated that his team aims to "reach an understanding on the security guarantees structure within 7 to 10 days." According to Zelensky, this understanding would form the cornerstone for a trilateral meeting involving himself, Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump. He added that he expects a "strong reaction" from the United States if Putin shows no willingness to engage in these meetings.

On the ground, Zelensky sharply criticized Russia's military buildup in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, which Moscow claims to have annexed. He pointed out, "Zaporizhzhia: The enemy is strengthening its presence. We can see that they continue to move part of their forces from the Kursk direction to Zaporizhzhia." These military movements, according to Zelensky, raise doubts about Moscow's seriousness in pursuing diplomatic solutions.

Zelensky concluded by noting that Moscow's position on territorial concessions remains unclear, describing the proposal for talks in Budapest as "challenging," which underscores the significant difficulties facing any progress on the path to peace.