Putin Willing to Meet Zelensky After Thorough Discussions, Says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, contingent upon comprehensive pre-meeting discussions regarding the resolution of the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. Lavrov stated that Putin has consistently expressed his readiness for such a meeting, but emphasized the need for experts and ministers to address all relevant issues beforehand. This statement follows discussions involving both Putin and Zelensky, with former US President Donald Trump suggesting a potential one-on-one meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders before a possible trilateral summit. Lavrov suggested Zelensky's eagerness for a meeting is driven by a desire to maintain international attention, noting that Zelensky previously rejected talks with Putin and signed a decree in 2022 prohibiting such negotiations, which remains in effect. Lavrov characterized Zelensky's current push for a summit as an attempt to create a superficial impression of constructive engagement, contrasting it with the substantive work needed to achieve a lasting resolution.