Putin sets conditions for Zelenskyy meeting as Kiev pushes for summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would only be possible if both sides first identify a framework for resolving the conflict.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said he sees "no point" in meeting with Zelenskyy until a peace deal is ready. He added that Russia was seeking a long-term settlement rather than a temporary pause in hostilities.

Putin's remarks came a day after Zelenskyy publicly proposed a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders to discuss ending the war and called for a date to be set. In an open letter on the Ukrainian presidential website, Zelenskyy suggested Switzerland, Turkiye, or an Arab country as venues, arguing that neither Moscow nor Kyiv would be suitable. He also called for Europe and the United States to participate.

Putin said Russia remains willing to pursue a peaceful settlement based on compromise proposals during Russia-US talks in Anchorage, Alaska, last year. According to Putin, the conflict could end quickly if Ukraine agreed to make concessions under that framework. He also rejected European countries as mediators.

Previously disclosed details of Russia's proposals include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas region, a commitment to permanent neutrality outside NATO, and a ban on Western troops on Ukrainian territory.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting would be "very good."

The UN also expressed support for diplomatic efforts with Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric telling reporters on Friday that the organization backs negotiations on an equal footing and remains committed to helping achieve a just, comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's EU bid continues to advance. Ukrainian officials said all 27 EU member states have agreed to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Talks could begin later this month on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg.

Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status in June 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine crisis earlier that year. Hungary, which had previously opposed opening talks with Kyiv, recently signaled support after reaching an agreement on ethnic Hungarian minority rights in Ukraine. Russia has said it is open to Ukraine joining the EU but firmly opposes Ukrainian NATO membership.

Analysts say Zelenskyy's proposal for a leaders' summit may reflect both diplomatic and security considerations.

Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European & Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the Trump administration's interest in mediating the conflict appears to have waned amid the Iran war, prompting Kyiv to seek renewed attention and support from the US and Europe. At the same time, Ukraine may hope that high-level talks could provide a temporary respite from mounting military and security challenges.

However, he said the prospect of a Putin-Zelenskyy summit in the near term remains remote, as Kyiv is unlikely to accept Moscow's demand for territorial concessions.

Despite the diplomatic deadlock, Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange on Friday, with each side handing over 185 captured soldiers.

On the same day, Russia accused Ukrainian forces of launching a drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, injuring three engineers and five Russian soldiers, according to Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation chief Alexey Likhachev.

Earlier Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that a localized ceasefire agreement near the Zaporizhzhia plant, brokered by the agency, had taken effect to allow repairs to critical power lines and reduce the risk of a nuclear accident.

Russia's Defense Ministry later claimed the Ukrainian drone strike occurred within hours of the ceasefire taking effect. Likhachev said Moscow had asked the IAEA to note the attack, which it called a violation.