Kremlin: Putin can meet Zelenskiy only to agree final conflict arrangements

The Kremlin says a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy would only take place to finalize concrete agreements on the conflict. Moscow stressed that any talks must be purposeful and result-driven, not symbolic.

Chizu Nomiyama/Reuters

April 23, 2026

Kremlin: Putin can meet Zelenskiy only to agree final conflict arrangements

FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov looks on as Russia's President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia November 19, 2025.

Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin can only meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Wednesday.

"The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment," TASS news agency quoted Peskov as telling Russian state television.

"The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive. And it can only be for the purpose of finalising agreements."

-Chizu Nomiyama/Reuters