A clear message to Ukraine was sent by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who emphasized that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky could only happen as a final step to seal a peace agreement. Specifically, Peskov stressed that such a meeting is unlikely to take place by the end of August, as proposed by Ukraine.
“A summit can and should put the final seal on a settlement and consolidate the details and agreements that have been worked out by specialists. It is impossible to do it the other way around,” Peskov told reporters.
“Is it possible to complete such a complex process in 30 days? Well, obviously, it is unlikely,” the Kremlin spokesperson underlined.
The gap remains
A Ukrainian delegation noted after the recent round of peace talks held on Wednesday between the two countries that Kyiv proposed a Putin-Zelensky summit in August to fall within the 50-day deadline that US President Donald Trump gave Russia last week for an agreement.
Trump threatened Russia and buyers of its exports with new sanctions if no agreement is reached by early September.
Peskov once again characterized the negotiating positions of the two sides as “diametrically opposed.” “They are unlikely to be able to converge overnight. This requires very complex diplomatic work,” the Kremlin spokesperson concluded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted in statements broadcast earlier today that talks with Moscow for a meeting with Putin have “begun.”
Russian negotiators have “started discussing it” with the Ukrainian side, the Ukrainian president noted, assessing this as “progress.”
