A face-to-face between Putin and Zelensky? Only under one condition

For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, one condition would need to be met.

While the Ukrainian delegation had suggested a summit between the two leaders, the Kremlin, with little change in its rhetoric, insisted that “agreements” must first be reached between Russia and Ukraine. "Such a meeting, the result of work by both sides and the conclusion of agreements, is possible. But only following agreements between both sides," stated Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian presidency.

Irreconcilable Positions

And, as has been the case since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the two sides remain at loggerheads. Vladimir Putin demands that Kyiv doesn't join NATO, guarantees for Moscow to keep Ukrainian territories annexed in 2022 (as well as Crimea), and demilitarisation of Ukraine. More broadly, the Russian president insists on a complete overhaul of Europe’s security architecture, arguing that NATO drawing closer to Russia’s borders is an existential threat to his country, according to Belgian media outlet DH.

These demands have been rejected by Zelensky and his European allies. Furthermore, the Ukrainian leader has repeatedly called for Russian armed forces to withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

For the Prisoner Exchange to Actually Take Place

Talks in Istanbul didn't achieve a hoped-for ceasefire, resulting only in the announcement of a prisoner swap. And according to Dmitry Peskov, for any further direct exchanges to take place, this prisoner exchange must first be carried out. "What remains to be done is what the delegations agreed on yesterday. Most importantly, to go ahead with the prisoner exchange in a 1,000 for 1,000 format," he said.

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source: DH - Illustration: ©Unsplash)