Despite Washington’s attempts to facilitate direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Kremlin has indicated Putin’s unwillingness. According to CNN on Aug. 20, such a meeting would amount to acknowledging a reality Moscow has long refused to accept.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, commenting on a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, said that “it was discussed that it might be worth considering the possibility of raising the level of representatives from the Russian and Ukrainian sides.”
Still, CNN reported that no specific leaders were mentioned, and there was little evidence that discussions would advance to such a high-level meeting.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov struck a softer tone in a state media interview, saying Moscow is open to “any forms of work—bilateral or trilateral,” while emphasizing that meetings between top officials require careful preparation. CNN viewed this as a signal that the Kremlin remains reluctant to hold a Putin–Zelenskyy summit.
Putin initiated the war by recognizing occupied Ukrainian territories as “independent” and portraying Ukraine as an inseparable part of Russia’s history and culture. Orysia Lutsevich of Chatham House told CNN that any meeting would force Putin to acknowledge Zelenskyy’s legitimacy—contradicting years of propaganda that casts him as a “Nazi” or a Western puppet.
The Kremlin frequently undermines Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, citing Ukraine’s postponed elections under martial law, and even made fresh demands for elections in its latest “peace” proposal. Russian officials, including Putin, often avoid his name, referring instead to the “Kyiv regime.” CNN noted that in May, while Zelenskyy traveled to Turkiye for direct talks, Putin sent only a delegation headed by a history textbook author.
Meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Aug. 18 phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
While the Kremlin has yet to issue an official confirmation, a senior U.S. administration official told Reuters that Hungary is being considered as a possible venue. Merz added that the meeting could be held within the next two weeks.
On Aug. 19, Trump told reporters that Zelenskyy and Putin should meet bilaterally before a trilateral summit with U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian leaders.
