Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described the prospect of a rapid summit between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as unrealistic.
According to Lavrov, Moscow believes the conditions for a bilateral summit are not yet met. “Putin is ready to meet Zelensky once a full agenda for the summit is prepared, and that agenda is far from complete,” he told NBC News.
Lavrov highlighted that key issues that must be resolved before such a meeting include territorial concessions and Ukraine renouncing its ambition to join the NATO alliance, reports DW.
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously called for such a meeting to help end Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine. However, he recently signaled that the possibility of a summit remains uncertain and indicated that new sanctions against Moscow could be imposed if progress is not made.
Speaking from the White House, Trump said he would make a “critical decision within two weeks” regarding efforts to secure peace in Ukraine. “There could be massive sanctions against Moscow – or I may do nothing and say: ‘This is your war,’” he stated.
Earlier, during a meeting with European leaders at the White House, Trump described the dynamic between Putin and Zelensky as “like oil and vinegar”, noting that the two leaders do not get along well, for reasons that are well-known.
