Putin says 'no sense' in meeting Zelenskyy after open letter

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday that he currently sees "no sense" in meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that previous direct negotiations had been exploited primarily to delay rather than secure agreements. "The previous experience shows that such meetings are used to buy time," Putin said, adding that Moscow needs "agreements — not meetings." He was responding to an open letter from Zelenskyy published a day earlier.

Kremlin dismisses letter's 'boorishness'

Putin told attendees at the annual economic gathering that he reviewed Zelenskyy's correspondence only after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov brought it to his attention, describing the document as containing "elements of boorishness." He questioned whether the Ukrainian president's objective was genuinely to facilitate dialogue or instead to create conditions that would render a summit impossible. "What is this? An attempt to organize a meeting or an attempt to create conditions in which it becomes impossible?" he asked.

Russia questions Zelenskyy's mandate, US guarantors

The Russian president specifically addressed Zelenskyy's references to his age and longevity in office, dismissing the personal criticism as irrelevant to his capacity to govern. "There are people who are older than me and continue to perform their duties," Putin said, noting that efficiency and health matter more than age. He also reiterated Moscow's position that presidential elections should be held in Ukraine, characterizing the postponement of polls beyond Zelenskyy's May 2024 constitutional term limit as a "usurpation of power" and a criminal offense.

Putin further questioned why Kyiv was reluctant to accept the United States as a guarantor for any future settlement, observing that Ukraine requests weapons from Washington while rejecting its potential role as a security guarantor. Referencing former US President Donald Trump, he suggested that Trump had been giving "manners lessons" to Zelenskyy. "We are all grateful to him, but there is more work here that needs to be done," Putin added.

Zelenskyy's open letter was published on Thursday as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict — now in its fourth year — continue without a breakthrough. The Ukrainian leader's presidential term expired in May 2024 under the constitution, though Kyiv has postponed elections indefinitely while martial law remains in effect.