Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for peace talks. Following his appearance at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, where he did not explicitly address an open letter from Kyiv, Putin later clarified during a discussion that he had seen the letter but hadn’t had the opportunity to review it in detail. He claimed to have only given it “a fleeting glance” on Friday morning and noted some of the points presented. While mentioning Zelenskyy’s age, Putin stated that the most important thing is to execute one’s work correctly.
Putin asserted that he has never refused a meeting but currently sees “no sense” in getting together simply for the sake of meeting. He argued that what is needed are “long-term” arrangements and agreements, not just short-term fixes spanning six months or a year. According to Putin, a solution must first be found regarding the core issues at hand.
During the conversation, he did not address Zelenskyy by name, referring instead to him as “the author of this letter.” Furthermore, Putin questioned why Ukraine does not want the Donald Trump administration to serve as a “guarantor for peace talks.” He expressed his gratitude toward Trump but noted that more work remains to be done. Putin also claimed it was a mistake for Ukraine to publicize the discussions, given that Zelenskyy’s open letter had challenged him and proposed a personal meeting.
Meanwhile, global political figures are preparing to meet with Zelenskyy in London on Sunday. This gathering will include French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to an announcement from the Élysée Palace on Friday. The stated aim of this forthcoming summit is to maintain “close coordination” in support of Ukraine while simultaneously increasing pressure on Russia’s war efforts. In a statement released by the Élysée Palace, it was further asserted that Russia is failing militarily, economically, and strategically, proving unsuccessful in its murderous conflict along the front lines.
