Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “if necessary,” despite ongoing questions over Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, according to the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that while Putin is willing to engage in dialogue, the legal foundation for any potential agreements remains uncertain.
“President Putin has made it clear that he is open to discussions with Zelenskyy if needed, but the legal framework of such agreements requires thorough review, particularly given the concerns over Zelenskyy’s legitimacy,” Peskov told reporters.
His remarks came amid high-level discussions between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia—the first direct meeting between the two sides since the start of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Despite the significance of the talks, both Washington and Moscow tempered expectations, signaling that no major breakthroughs were imminent.
The meeting was held at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met alongside senior advisers. Notably, neither delegation made public statements before the talks, and there was no formal handshake. Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, also took part in the discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Kyiv’s exclusion from the negotiations, stating that Ukraine had not been informed of the meeting and would not accept any agreements concerning its future without direct involvement. “As a sovereign nation, we cannot recognize any agreements made without our participation,” Zelenskyy said in an interview.
As diplomatic maneuvers continue, tensions on the battlefield remain high. The Ukrainian military reported overnight drone attacks by Russian forces, with at least 176 drones launched at Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the majority of these were intercepted or neutralized by air defense systems.
Meanwhile, European leaders convened in Paris for emergency talks, expressing concerns over the direction of U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, who has shown willingness to engage with Moscow. Now in his second term, Trump has advocated for a swift resolution to the war, while Russia sees his diplomatic efforts as an opportunity to push for concessions.
The Kremlin maintains that a long-term resolution to the conflict must address broader European security issues. While recognizing Ukraine’s right to seek European Union membership, Russia continues to oppose Kyiv’s NATO aspirations.
Both Ukraine and Russia remain firm in their positions—Kyiv refuses to make territorial concessions, while Moscow insists on Ukrainian withdrawal from key regions. Despite ongoing hostilities, international efforts to mediate the conflict persist, with U.S.-Russia talks signaling a potential path toward future negotiations.
