After Putin's latest statements, Zelenski again asks for a direct meeting: “only Russia's availability is missing”

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenki again asked on Friday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, after the latter appreciated as a positive round of Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations held last week in Istanbul.

“I have heard the statements that come from Russia. If these are signals of an authentic will to put an end to the war with dignity and to establish a truly durable peace – and not just a simple attempt to win the war and to postpone the sanctions – then Ukraine once again reaffirms the availability for a reunion,” Social X, according to Agerpres.

“Ukraine urges us to move from exchanges of statements and meetings at the technical level to discussions between leaders. The United States has proposed them. Ukraine supported them. What is missing is the availability of Russia,” added the Ukrainian president.

He thanked in the same message to those who support Ukraine and mentioned in particular the attempts of American President Donald Trump “to put an end to the war, to stop the bloodshed and to obtain a dignified and durable peace”, after Trump gave Putin a ten-day ultimatum to stop the war in Ukraine. of Russian oil.

We See and Support President Trump's @Potus Efforts to end Russia's War, to stop the Killing, and to achies a Dignified and Lasting Peace. We have the grateful to everyday the World Who Supports Peace Efforts and Helps US Protect Lives.

We have Heard the Statements Coming Out …

– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир зеленський (@zezekyyua) August 1, 2025

Zelenski has previously asked to meet Putin, but was refused by Kremlin, who transmitted that a meeting between leaders will be able to run only after sufficient progress has been made in lower levels.

The Russian president claimed on Friday that he wants a “sustainable peace” with Ukraine and appreciated as a positive round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations held last week in Istanbul, but insisting that the peace conditions required by Russia remain unchanged.

“We need a sustainable, stable peace, located on good bases to thank Russia and Ukraine,” Putin said, in statements given to the press on the occasion of a meeting with his counterpart Belarus Aleksandr Lukaşenko.

Without commenting on the ultimatum given by Trump, the Russian president expressed the hope that Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will continue and that working groups could discuss potential compromise solutions, discussions that will be held “without rooms and in a calm atmosphere”.

Russia asks Ukraine to officially give up the four regions partially controlled by the Russian army (Donetk, Lugansk, Zaporojie and Herson), as well as the Crimea Peninsula annexed in 2014, to give up the aspiration of NATO and to diminish its military capabilities.

These conditions are considered unacceptable by Ukraine, which requires the full withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory and Western security guarantees, including continuing weapons and a European military contingent on Ukrainian territory, which Russia is categorically opposed.