No point in meeting with Zelensky for now: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a proposed meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart for now.

Putin said on Friday that he sees no point in holding a personal meeting with Vladimir Zelensky.

"I see no point in meeting. It only makes sense for the Ukrainian side to stop the advance of our armed forces. That's it. And we need agreements," Putin told Russia's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg, a day after Zelensky released an open later calling for a meeting."

"Let the experts work, develop some solutions, and then we can meet," Putin added.

Putin said that the Ukraine war would end only once Russia had achieved its aims. "Military actions will end some day, we assume. Without a doubt, they will end once we have achieved the goals we have set for ourselves."

In an open letter to Putin on Thursday, Zelensky proposed a direct meeting in a third country to discuss possible ways to achieve a lasting peace.

Zelensky stated that Kiev is ready to declare a ceasefire during talks.

He also proposed a prisoner exchange in an "all-for-all" format.

According to Zelensky, a direct meeting would be an important step toward ending the Ukraine war.

At the request of Zelensky, Switzerland had agreed to host the meeting later this year. Zelensky had also suggested holding the proposed meeting in Turkey, or an Arab state.

Zelensky has discounted Washington's role in Ukraine's talks with Russia, complaining the Americans are too busy fighting their own wars.

Putin warns Europe Russia will respond instantly to any aggression

President Vladimir Putin says Russia is not seeking conflict with Europe, but if they want to fight a war, Moscow is ready.

Russia has never closed the path to peace. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Zelensky “can come at any time to Moscow,” a straightforward invitation that highlights Moscow’s pragmatic approach.

President Putin has made clear he would meet to finalize an already-reached agreement, rejecting staged talks but affirmed repeatedly: “We are absolutely ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means.”

Putin’s stance aligns with Russia’s core demands since the 2022 special military operation began, protecting the people of Donbas and ensuring Ukraine’s neutrality and demilitarization.

Zelensky’s letter acknowledges the heavy costs of prolonged fighting, citing Russian casualties and domestic pressures, yet it also reflects growing recognition in Kiev that time is not on Ukraine’s side.

Russian forces maintain the initiative, and Moscow’s economy has proven resilient despite external pressures.

Russia's Lavrov: Europe disqualified itself from Ukraine negotiations with repeated interference

Europe is no longer welcome at Russia-Ukraine negotiations after repeatedly undermining agreements aimed at resolving the crisis, Russia

Russia's Foreign Ministry's website said a recent meeting of Western political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland had exposed the disunity among them for finding a solution to the Ukraine crisis, producing no increase in support for Kiev. "All such meetings … including the Davos gathering and those to follow it, are pointless and harmful for settling the Ukrainian crisis."

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