Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but raised doubts over Zelensky’s authority to sign a potential peace agreement.
The remarks come after Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump met in Alaska on Friday, marking the first Russia–U.S. summit in over four years, where both leaders discussed ending the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, Reuters reports.
Following the Alaska talks, Trump stated Monday that he had begun organizing a Russia–Ukraine leaders’ meeting, which would later be followed by a trilateral summit including the U.S. president.
When asked if Putin was ready to meet Zelensky, Lavrov replied:
“Our president has consistently said that he is ready to meet, including with Mr. Zelensky. But with the understanding that all issues requiring review at the highest level will be properly prepared by experts and ministers. And, of course, with the understanding that when it comes to signing future agreements, the question of the legitimacy of the Ukrainian side’s representative must be resolved.”
Moscow has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, noting that his presidential term was supposed to expire in May 2024. Ukraine, however, postponed elections due to wartime conditions. Kyiv insists Zelensky remains the legitimate president.
Russian officials argue that if Zelensky were to sign a peace agreement, a future Ukrainian leader might reject it on grounds that Zelensky’s mandate had technically expired.
Meanwhile, Zelensky stated earlier this week that Kyiv expects a strong response from Washington if Putin refuses to sit down for a bilateral meeting with him.
