Putin Ready To Meet Zelenskyy, But Doubt The Credibility Of The President Of Ukraine

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but all issues must be resolved first.

Russia expressed doubts about Zelenskyy's authority to sign a peace agreement.

Putin and US President Donald Trump met on Friday last week in Alaska for the first Russia-US summit in more than four years and the two leaders discussed ways to end Europe's deadliest war since the Second World War.

After its summit in Alaska, Trump said he had begun arranging a meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, which will be attended by a trilateral summit with the US president.

When asked by reporters whether Putin was willing to meet Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "Our president has repeatedly said he (Putin) is ready to meet, including with Mr Zelenskiy".

"With the understanding that all issues requiring consideration at the highest level will be discussed properly, and experts and ministers will prepare appropriate recommendations. And, of course, with an understanding of the signing of the agreement in the future, the issue of legitimacy of the person who signed this agreement from the Ukrainian side will be resolved," Lavrov said.

Putin has repeatedly cast doubt on Zelenskyy's legitimacy as his term of office expires in May 2024, but the war means no new presidential election has yet been held.

Kyiv stated that Zelenskyy remains a legitimate president.

Russian officials say they are worried that if Zelenskyy signs the deal, potential Ukrainian leaders can sue him on the grounds that Zelenskyy's term has technically ended.

Zelenskyy previously said Kyiv wanted a "hard reaction" from Washington if Putin was not willing to meet him bilaterally.

European leaders say they are skeptical Putin is truly interested in peace, but is looking for a credible way to ensure Ukraine's security as part of a potential peace deal with US minimal engagement.

Lavrov said Ukraine and European leaders did not want peace. He alleges the so-called "European coalition" such as Britain, France, Germany, and Italy - is trying to undermine the progress that has been made in Alaska.

"They are not interested in a sustainable, fair and long-term settlement," Lavrov said of Ukraine. He said Europe was interested in achieving Russia's strategic defeat.

"European countries are following Mr Zelenskyy to Washington and are trying to advance their agenda there, which aims to ensure that security guarantees are based on Russian isolation logic," Lavrov said, referring to a meeting of Trump, Zelenskyy, and leaders of major European countries at the White House on Monday.

Lavrov said the best option for security guarantees for Ukraine would be based on discussions taking place between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul in 2022.

Based on the draft document that Reuters has seen, Ukraine is required to approve permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from five permanent members of the UN Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

Any attempt to abandon Istanbul's failed negotiations would be in vain, Lavrov said.

At that time, Kyiv rejected the proposal on the grounds that Moscow would have an effective veto right to any military response that would help it.