Kremlin, Kyiv Shift Focus to Possible Zelensky–Putin Meeting

By Ohworisi Elohor

Efforts to end the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine appeared to take a new turn this week, as negotiators from both sides reportedly touched on the possibility of a direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The discussion was said to have taken place during fresh diplomatic talks held in Istanbul, where Ukraine’s delegation, led by chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, proposed that such a meeting take place before the end of August. The proposed timeline coincided with a reported 50-day deadline given by former U.S. President Donald Trump for both parties to reach a peace agreement or face stricter consequences.

President Zelensky had long pushed for a face-to-face dialogue with his Russian counterpart, suggesting that a leader-level engagement could mark the first real step toward ending the war, now in its third year.

“In discussions with our side, the topic of a possible meeting began to surface. This alone signals some movement toward a dialogue framework,” Zelensky was quoted as saying in remarks shared with journalists on Friday.

Although President Putin had previously expressed readiness for a meeting, he maintained that it should only occur during what he described as the “final phase” of peace negotiations.

However, cautious tones continued to emerge from the Russian side. Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s lead negotiator, indicated that any such summit must be properly organized to be meaningful. “Only with adequate preparation will a meeting between the presidents be worthwhile,” he reportedly stated, downplaying the chances of it happening soon.

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, progress has remained slow, with both nations holding firm to sharply different demands.

On the battlefield, Russian forces were said to have maintained pressure along several fronts. President Zelensky acknowledged continued assaults but noted that no significant territorial gains had been achieved. “They are making attempts to break through,” he said, “but there have been no major advances.”