In a stark assessment delivered during a press interaction, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Ukraine’s current leadership under Volodymyr Zelenskyy as lacking any legitimate authority, rendering negotiations with Kyiv futile. Speaking at the conclusion of a three-day trip to Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, Putin emphasized that signing any accords with the Ukrainian administration would be an exercise in futility.
The Russian leader’s remarks came as he addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent proposal on the Ukraine conflict, describing it not as a formal peace blueprint but as a preliminary list of topics for dialogue. “It’s a set of issues put forward for discussion,” Putin stated, suggesting the outline could serve as a foundation for potential future pacts, provided deeper conversations ensue. He urged a thorough review, noting, “We need to sit down and discuss this seriously. Every word matters.”
At the heart of Putin’s critique is the expiration of Zelenskyy’s presidential term last May, which he claims has stripped the Ukrainian president of electoral validity due to the government’s refusal to conduct polls. This stance, Putin argued, underscores the illegitimacy of the Kyiv regime. In response, Ukrainian officials have maintained that wartime conditions—specifically the ongoing martial law imposed amid Russia’s invasion—preclude any elections, as the nation focuses on repelling the aggressor forces.
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Putin reiterated Moscow’s preconditions for de-escalation, insisting that Ukrainian forces must fully retreat from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions—territories Russia annexed in 2022 but does not fully control. “Hostilities will cease if Ukrainian troops withdraw from territories they occupy,” he said bluntly. “If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this by force.” These demands extend beyond territorial concessions; Putin has long advocated for Ukraine’s permanent exclusion from NATO membership and the barring of Western military presence on its soil, moves he views as essential to realigning the country within Russia’s sphere of influence.
The comments arrive against a backdrop of tentative diplomatic overtures. While Putin acknowledged that the U.S. appears receptive to Russia’s perspective, he stressed unresolved matters demand urgent attention. Washington has signaled continued engagement: U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to arrive in Moscow next week, with U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll potentially traveling to Kyiv soon after.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has ignited Europe’s most devastating war since World War II, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread devastation. Putin’s latest statements underscore the chasm separating Moscow’s maximalist goals from Kyiv’s resolve to defend its sovereignty, casting fresh doubt on the viability of near-term ceasefires.
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