Putin: I’m open to dialogue with Zelensky, but only if…..

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, provided the meeting is well-prepared and poised to yield tangible results.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, following a four-day state visit to China, Putin addressed the possibility of direct talks to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion and has caused widespread casualties and displacement.

“If Zelensky is ready to come to Moscow and there’s proper preparation with potential for a favorable outcome, such a meeting can happen,” Putin stated, as broadcast live on Russian state television.

He emphasized the need for substantive negotiations, dismissing superficial discussions: “I’m open to dialogue, but only if it’s thoroughly prepared with concrete plans, not just symbolic gestures.”

Putin also revealed that former U.S. President Donald Trump had recently proposed facilitating such a meeting.

“Donald asked if organizing this was possible. I told him yes, it is,” Putin said, referencing their summit in Alaska a month prior.

However, he questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, claiming the Ukrainian leader’s term expired in 2024, despite Zelensky governing under martial law, which constitutionally extends his tenure during wartime.

The remarks follow Zelensky’s repeated calls for direct negotiations with Putin to secure a ceasefire and explore peace prospects, amid Russia’s continued military pressure and limited diplomatic overtures. Putin, in power since 2012 following constitutional changes, reiterated that any talks must align with Russia’s conditions for meaningful progress.