Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that President Vladimir Putin remains open to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only under the condition that all key matters related to the conflict are settled in advance through diplomatic and ministerial channels.
Speaking in an interview with RT, Lavrov emphasized that Putin has consistently expressed readiness to engage directly with Zelenskyy but cautioned that such a meeting must not become a substitute for thorough negotiations.
“The Russian president repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Zelenskyy, if there is an understanding that all issues that require consideration at the highest level have been worked out thoroughly by experts and ministers,” Lavrov stated.
Trump’s Mediation Attempt
The comments come as former U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a direct meeting between the two leaders before a potential trilateral summit involving himself. Following Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington earlier this week, Trump suggested that a one-on-one session between Putin and Zelenskyy could lay the groundwork for larger talks.
Zelenskyy, who has signaled his willingness to negotiate directly with Putin, is seeking to keep global attention on Ukraine’s position. However, Lavrov noted that the Ukrainian leader had in 2022 signed a decree banning direct talks with Putin — a measure that remains in effect.
Lavrov’s Criticism of Zelenskyy
Lavrov accused Zelenskyy of prioritizing optics over substance, claiming the Ukrainian president is more focused on theatrics than meaningful progress.
“Clearly, his activity in relation to staging a summit with the Russian leader also has a goal of displaying his supposedly constructive focus on the settlement process, but in reality, it is simply about replacing the serious, hard, difficult work on agreeing the principles of a sustainable resolution of the crisis… with special effects and tricks in the style of KVN and Kvartal 95,” Lavrov remarked, referencing Zelenskyy’s past as a comedian and television performer.
Kremlin’s Position
Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that Putin had discussed the matter in a phone call with Trump earlier this week. Both leaders expressed support for continuing direct Russia-Ukraine talks, which resumed in Istanbul in May, and discussed the possibility of involving higher-level officials in the process.
While Moscow insists that expert-level groundwork must precede any top-level summit, Kyiv appears intent on securing a high-profile meeting that could shift the narrative in its favor internationally.
For now, the prospect of a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting remains uncertain — balanced precariously between Russia’s demand for substantive progress and Ukraine’s drive for diplomatic visibility.