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Kremlin Says Putin Can Meet Zelenskiy Only to Agree Final Conflict Arrangements
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on April 22, 2026, that President Putin is willing to meet President Zelenskiy only to finalise conflict-related agreements, emphasizing the need for a concrete and productive purpose for any such meeting. This follows Moscow’s long-standing insistence that prepa
Kremlin says Putin can meet Zelenskiy only to agree final conflict arrangements
Kremlin and Ukraine Statements on Prospective Putin-Zelenskiy Meeting
April 22 (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.
Background to the Meeting Proposal
Peskov's comments on state television, reported by Russian news agencies, came after Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine asked Turkey to host a meeting between between the two leaders to reinvigorate stalling peace talks.
Kremlin's Position on the Meeting
"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," the news agencies quoted Peskov as saying.
"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."
Requirements and Preconditions
Peskov said any such meeting required careful preparation and "political will from the Kyiv regime, And for now, we see no such political will."
Russia's Military Objectives and Security Concerns
He said Russia's main aim in its military drive, known as a "special military operation" was to ensure its vital interests and guard against Ukrainian attacks on energy and other targets which he described as "the danger of terrorism from the Kyiv region".
He said Russia was ready for any new talks on a settlement to the war with U.S. negotiators "even tomorrow".
Ukraine and Turkey's Diplomatic Efforts
In his earlier comments, Sybiha said Kyiv had asked Turkey to host a meeting between the two leaders but did not say how Ankar had responded to the request.
Turkey's Role in Mediation
The Turkish presidency said President Tayyip Erdogan told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in a meeting that Ankara was making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alistair Bell)
Key Takeaways
- •Putin has expressed openness to meet Zelenskiy “at any moment,” but only if the meeting serves to finalise agreements—making preparatory negotiation essential (aljazeera.com).
- •This position aligns with the Kremlin’s consistent narrative since mid‑2025 that a leader‑level summit must follow concrete, expert‑level agreement, not precede groundwork (rt.com).
- •Ukraine, for its part, has repeatedly proposed direct talks—including Zelenskiy’s invitation to Putin to meet in Kyiv—yet Moscow remains firm that such a meeting can occur only after “prior agreements” are in place (aljazeera.com).
References
- Putin hints at direct talks with Ukraine; Zelenskyy says only after truce | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera
- Putin-Zelensky summit only possible to finalize peace deal – Kremlin — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy invites Putin to Kyiv for talks | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera
Frequently Asked Questions about Kremlin says Putin can meet Zelenskiy only to agree final conflict arrangements
1Under what conditions will Putin meet Zelenskiy?
Putin will meet with Zelenskiy only to finalise agreements related to the conflict.
2Where is Putin willing to meet Zelenskiy?
Putin has stated he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment.
3What did Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov say about the meeting?
Peskov said the meeting should be productive and only for finalising agreements.
4Why does the Kremlin say a meeting should take place?
The Kremlin believes the purpose of any meeting should be to finalise conflict arrangements.
