Kremlin States That Meeting Between Putin and Zelensky Is Only Possible at the Final Stage of a Peace Agreement

The Kremlin has indicated that a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should only take place as a final step in finalizing a peace agreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the likelihood of such a meeting occurring by the end of August, as proposed by Ukraine, is slim.

“A summit meeting can and should put the final point on a settlement and cement the modalities and agreements worked out by experts. It is impossible to do it the other way round,” Peskov remarked during a press briefing. He further questioned the feasibility of navigating “such a complex process in 30 days,” stating, “Well, obviously, it is unlikely.”

As the situation unfolds, Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk Oblast continue to fire D-20 artillery towards Toretsk in Ukraine, maintaining pressure on the conflict front.

In response to inquiries from the media, President Zelensky mentioned that Russia has recently begun to engage in discussions regarding the potential for a summit. “Now, in talks with us, they have begun to discuss it. This is already progress towards some kind of meeting format,” he noted.

A Ukrainian delegate revealed that during the latest peace talks—lasting just 40 minutes—Kyiv proposed a summit between Putin and Zelensky in August, aligning with the 50-day deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for achieving a deal.

Trump has warned of new sanctions directed at Russia and its export buyers unless an agreement can be reached by early September. “It could be that we have to put secondary sanctions on Russia,” he declared to reporters at the White House prior to his trip to Scotland.

Peskov reiterated the stark differences in the negotiating positions of both sides, labeling them as “diametrically opposed.” He cautioned, “It is unlikely that they can be brought together overnight. This will require very complex diplomatic work.”

Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his intention to reach out to both Russian and U.S. leaders in hopes of facilitating a meeting in Istanbul to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. “By holding calls with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and [U.S. President Donald] Trump within this week, we will see if we can bring these leaders together in Istanbul; that is our effort,” he stated after the Friday prayers.

On another front, Ukraine has secured confirmation from its partners for the provision of three Patriot missile defense systems, with discussions in progress to acquire seven more, as confirmed by Zelensky. “I have officially received confirmation from Germany for two systems and from Norway for one. We are currently working with Dutch partners,” he reported to the press.

Earlier this month, Trump announced a significant package of U.S. weapons to Ukraine, which includes Patriot missiles. This development has triggered negotiations among allies about contributions to the weapon procurement initiative—an essential aspect determining the support Ukraine will receive.

The Patriot systems have shown effectiveness in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles targeting Ukrainian cities. Besides securing air defense capabilities, Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine needs to address a financing gap of €34 billion for the upcoming year. Additionally, he stated that an extra €21 billion will be necessary for the production of missiles, drones, and electronic warfare systems.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.