Zelensky says he aims to meet Putin once security guarantees agreed
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak at a meeting in July.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV – Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have indicated that they are willing to meet if certain conditions are met.
Mr Zelensky said on Aug 21 that he could meet Mr Putin but only after his country received security guarantees, and he mentioned Switzerland, Austria or Turkey as possible venues.
“We want to have an understanding of the security guarantees architecture within seven to 10 days. And based on that understanding, we aim to hold a trilateral meeting”, also with US President Donald Trump, Mr Zelensky said.
“Switzerland, Austria – we agree... For us, Turkey is a Nato country and part of Europe. And we are not opposed,” he said of the possible venues in comments to media released on Aug 21.
For Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Mr Putin is prepared to meet Mr Zelensky, but all issues needed to be worked through first and there is a question about the Ukrainian leader’s authority to sign a deal.
“Our President has repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Mr Zelensky,” he told reporters.
Mr Lavrov, though, added a caveat: “With the understanding that all issues that require consideration at the highest level will be well worked out, and experts and ministers will prepare appropriate recommendations.
“And, of course, with the understanding that when and if – hopefully, when – it comes to signing future agreements, the issue of the legitimacy of the person who signs these agreements from the Ukrainian side will be resolved.”
Mr Zelensky’s chief of staff said on Aug 20 that work was under way on establishing the military component of security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a settlement of the war with Russia.
“Our teams, above all the military, have already begun active work on the military component of security guarantees,” Mr Andriy Yermak wrote on social media platform X after a meeting of national security advisers from Western countries and Nato.
Mr Yermak said Ukraine was also working on a plan with its allies on how to proceed “in case the Russian side continues to prolong the war and disrupt agreements on bilateral and trilateral formats of leaders’ meetings”.
A Western official had earlier told Reuters that a small group of military leaders was continuing discussions in Washington to work out options for security guarantees for Ukraine after the conclusion of a bigger virtual meeting. REUTERS, AFP
