Zelenskyy Accuses Moscow of Blocking Summit With Putin as Trump Pushes for Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday accused Russia of deliberately stalling efforts to arrange a long-anticipated face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he had begun working toward such a summit.
The comments came amid heightened international debate over whether diplomacy can break the deadlock in Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II.
Trump Signals Possible Breakthrough, Zelenskyy Remains Skeptical
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Trump, who has repeatedly promised to bring an end to what he calls the “bloodbath” in Ukraine if re-elected, hinted at his willingness to broker direct talks.
“Well, we’ll see. We’re going to see if Putin and Zelenskyy will be working together. It’s like oil and vinegar a little bit,” Trump remarked, characteristically downplaying the deep-rooted tensions between Kyiv and Moscow.
However, Zelenskyy painted a far less optimistic picture during a joint press conference in Kyiv with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
He alleged that Moscow was deliberately obstructing diplomatic efforts. The Russians are doing everything they can to prevent the meeting from taking place,” Zelenskyy said. “This meeting is one of the components of how to end the war. And since they don’t want to end it, they will look for space to avoid it.”
His comments reflected Ukraine’s growing frustration as Russia continues to advance on some parts of the front while showing no sign of softening its demands.
Moscow: “Agenda Not Ready”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed Moscow’s familiar position in an interview with NBC News. Lavrov stated that President Putin remained open to meeting Zelenskyy “when the agenda is ready for a summit.”
However, he insisted that no such groundwork had been laid yet. This agenda is not ready at all,” Lavrov said, implying that Kyiv had failed to outline clear terms for negotiations.
Moscow has consistently demanded Ukrainian concessions, including ceding control over parts of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions and agreeing to freeze the front line in southern territories that Russia claims to have annexed in full.
In exchange, Russia has hinted at the possibility of returning smaller portions of occupied land.
The Deadly Toll of a Prolonged War
The remarks from all sides come as the war nears the three-year mark since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. What began as a rapid assault has evolved into a grinding war of attrition, with both sides suffering catastrophic losses.
Analysts estimate that over one million soldiers from both nations have been killed or wounded, while thousands of civilians have perished in relentless artillery strikes, drone attacks, and air raids.
Russia has increasingly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid and infrastructure in recent months, plunging cities into darkness and testing Kyiv’s air defenses.
Ukraine, in turn, has stepped up its strikes deep inside Russian territory, including on oil refineries and supply depots, in an attempt to weaken Moscow’s war machine.
Kyiv’s Diplomatic Shifts and Western Pressure
Zelenskyy’s stance has evolved. Once insistent on a prolonged ceasefire and full Russian withdrawal before any dialogue, he has since softened his conditions, signaling willingness to enter talks without a long truce.
However, he continues to urge Western allies to ramp up pressure on Moscow through sanctions and military aid, emphasizing that negotiations must not be held from a position of weakness. Russia should be forced into at least a minimally productive position.”
Zelenskyy asserted on Friday, warning that any delay in sanctions or military support risks emboldening the Kremlin.
Push for Long-Term Security Guarantees
At the Kyiv press conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underscored that discussions were already underway to define concrete, long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy emphasized that these guarantees should be as strong as NATO’s Article 5 commitment, which obligates member nations to defend each other in case of an attack.
This is the beginning of a big undertaking, and it is not easy,” Zelenskyy said. “Guarantees consist of what our partners can provide to Ukraine, as well as how we strengthen our army to maintain its power.”
Military chiefs from the U.S. and European nations recently presented draft options for these guarantees to their respective national security advisers. Ukrainian Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak confirmed that Kyiv expects to receive the first formal proposals next week.
Diplomatic Gamble in a Brutal Conflict
As the war drags on, the diplomatic stakes continue to rise. Trump’s announcement signals that he sees a personal role in shaping negotiations, a prospect that has divided opinion in Washington and Europe.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is seeking to rally Western support and portray Russia as unwilling to engage in meaningful talks without imposing its own terms.
The stalled summit discussions, combined with Moscow’s unyielding battlefield strategy, have fueled fears that the conflict could become a frozen war resembling decades-old territorial disputes elsewhere.
For now, Ukraine remains caught in a grueling struggle for survival, relying heavily on Western military assistance while continuing to seek a diplomatic breakthrough that does not undermine its sovereignty.
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