Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow has never refused to negotiate and is analyzing “with whom we can deal with regarding Ukraine and whom we can trust.”
He stated that “in general, there is a basis for the negotiation process, the Istanbul agreements”.
In addition, Putin said that the issue of Zelensky's “legitimacy” is important for Russia in the event of any agreements to end the war.
“For Russia, the question of Zelensky's legitimacy matters, fateful documents must be signed with a legitimate government,” Putin said.
He noted that the question of Zelensky's legitimacy “should be answered by the legal and political system of Ukraine.”
“The question of Zelensky's legitimacy after May 20 should be answered by the political and legal system of Ukraine, in particular the Constitutional Court. For Russia, the question of Zelensky's legitimacy is important, and fateful documents must be signed with a legitimate government,” the Russian president said.
Putin also said that the Ukrainian peace formula, which provides for the withdrawal of Russian troops, is “based on whims” and not on the “real situation” and is “impossible to discuss.”
“They wanted to defeat us on the battlefield, but it didn't work. And now they are setting us conditions. Have you fallen off the wagon? Why? We will proceed from the realities on the ground,” Putin said.
He said that Russia is ready to participate in peace talks on Ukraine, but it is not invited.
About the Global Peace Summit, he said it was “an attempt to impose an ultimatum on Russia.”
“They want to gather as many countries there as possible, convince everyone that the conditions proposed by the Ukrainian side are the best, and then present them to Russia as an ultimatum. This is an attempt to impose. This will not work,” Putin said.
