Putin sees no point in meeting Zelenskyy until peace deal finalized

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that a direct meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, holds no current value. Speaking in Saint Petersburg on Friday, Putin asserted that any such encounter would primarily benefit Ukraine by seeking to halt the advance of Russian armed forces.

"I don't see the point of a meeting. It is only of interest to the Ukrainian side to stop the advance of our armed forces," Putin stated. He suggested that the process should be left to specialists to develop solutions, after which a meeting might be considered.

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I don't see the point of a meeting. It is only of interest to the Ukrainian side to stop the advance of our armed forces.

Poutine also commented on the broader conflict, stating that the war in Ukraine would only conclude once Russia achieved its objectives. "We proceed from the principle that hostilities will end one day. And, without a doubt, they will cease when we have achieved the objectives we set for ourselves," the Kremlin host said.

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We proceed from the principle that hostilities will end one day. And, without a doubt, they will cease when we have achieved the objectives we set for ourselves.