Putin Rules Out Near-Term Meeting With Zelenskyy, Cites Ongoing Military Advance

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out a near-term meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite Zelenskyy's recent direct appeal for talks to end the more than four-year-old conflict. Putin stated at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum that a meeting would be "meaningless" until conditions for a peace agreement are settled.

Putin reiterated that Russian forces will continue their advance until all military objectives are achieved. Russia seeks control over the eastern Donbas region and broad political and military restrictions on Ukraine, conditions that Kyiv and its allies reject as tantamount to surrender. Despite peace negotiations mediated by the United States, the two sides remain far apart.

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I don't see the point of a meeting. For Ukraine, the only meaningful thing is to stop our army's advance, nothing more. And we need an agreement... let the experts work first, draw up some options, then we'll meet.

Zelenskyy had made a rare direct address to Putin, proposing "direct contact between us to end this war" and suggesting a meeting with a clear date. Following Putin's rejection, Zelenskyy characterized the response as "weak" and stated that Russia had "chosen war again."

Several allies, including U.S. President Trump and French President Macron, supported Zelenskyy's proposal. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in London on June 7 to energize efforts to end the war.

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Unfortunately, the Russian side has once again chosen war, and everyone heard today's response. It is a weak response. He simply does not want to end the war.