Russian president rejects Ukrainian leader's proposal for talks at St. Petersburg forum; Zelensky calls response weak.
2:59 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he sees no point in meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to an open letter the Ukrainian leader sent proposing direct negotiations to end the war.
Speaking at a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin addressed the letter without engaging directly with its contents. When asked to comment, he instead directed remarks to Russian soldiers on the frontline, saying, "The whole country is proud of you and is counting on you. Keep up the good work, brothers!"
Asked to clarify whether this meant he did not plan to meet with Zelensky, Putin stated, "So far, I see no point in this." He elaborated that the Ukrainian side's goal was to stop Russian advances, while Russia needed agreements. Putin also suggested the letter contained "elements of rudeness" directed at him and questioned whether it was intended to create conditions for negotiations or make such meetings impossible. He said he had read the letter "casually" after his spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, had "slipped it to him."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the letter represented a chance for Putin to end the war. Speaking at a press conference in Vinnytsia, Sybiha stated that Zelensky's letter provided "an objective assessment of where we stand today" and that Ukraine sought a just peace. He noted that Ukraine had transmitted the letter through diplomatic channels and officially registered it with international organizations, including the United Nations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told media at the same forum that Russia had not received Zelensky's letter through diplomatic channels. "No. At least not at this time," Lavrov said when asked if Kiev had sent the letter to Moscow officially. He characterized the situation as "talking for talking's sake," comparing it to French President Emmanuel Macron's stated readiness to meet with Putin.
Zelensky responded to Putin's statement on Telegram Friday, saying the Russian president had chosen war and delivered a "weak response." He stated that Putin "simply does not want to end the war" and suggested the response had disappointed world leaders. Zelensky said Putin "doesn't want to change anything and doesn't want to admit that his war appeals only to him and those who profit from it." He called for less money flowing to Russia and more pressure on the country, while thanking those supporting Ukraine and seeking real peace.
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