Zelensky says Russian negotiators have 'begun to discuss' possible Putin meeting

TDT | Manama

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Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv discussed the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their talks in Istanbul this week, Zelensky said in comments released Friday.

Ukraine has been pushing for a meeting between the two leaders and has expressed hope that Donald Trump, who has been pushing for the warring parties to strike a deal, could also take part.

Putin has said he is ready to meet Zelensky but only during a "final phase" of negotiations on ending the three-year war.

"We need an end to the war, which probably begins with a meeting of leaders," Zelensky told reporters including AFP.

"In talks with us, they have begun to discuss it. This is already progress toward some kind of meeting format," he added.

At a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday, Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov proposed to hold the talks before the end of August.

The timing would roughly align with a deadline set by US President Trump, who earlier this month gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal with Ukraine or face sweeping sanctions.

Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, however, downplayed the likelihood of an imminent meeting.

"The meeting must be properly prepared. Only then will it make sense," Medinsky was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency TASS.