Meeting Between Putin and Zelensky: Why the Delay?
In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a potential meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky remains a contentious issue.
Despite the efforts of foreign diplomats, the strained relationship between the two leaders and the hurdles Putin has established make a meeting difficult. Moscow has made it clear that Putin will only meet with Zelensky or another representative from Kiev if Ukraine surrenders.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has been keeping the Russian fleet at bay in the Black Sea and conducting increasing drone strikes on refineries, energy facilities, and railway lines in Russia's hinterland. These actions have been a thorn in the side of the Kremlin leader, who sees his troops advancing in Eastern Ukraine, albeit at a heavy cost.
The Russian advance has not been without losses. The powerful television propaganda, a tool Putin often uses to sway public opinion, is finding it hard to sell a U-turn to the audience. Even Russian political scientist Oryisa Lutsevich, at the British think tank Chatham House, has stated that such a change would be challenging for Putin to justify.
On the Ukrainian side, President Zelensky, a successful comedian and TV producer before entering politics in 2019, has accused Putin of terrorism and has called him an "idiot" at times. This hostile rhetoric has not been conducive to negotiations.
The Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin, has ruled over Russia with increasing authoritarianism for a quarter of a century. His authoritarian rule has been a barrier to any significant progress in the bilateral negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow that have been ongoing since May. There has been little progress to report.
Delegations at lower levels must first agree on a deal before the heads of state step in and sign the pre-negotiated agreement, according to Moscow. However, preparations for a potential meeting between Putin and Zelensky are underway, with the next planned meeting expected to take place by the end of August 2025, potentially in a neutral European country such as Switzerland (Geneva) or Austria.
A U-turn in Russia's stance towards Ukraine would be challenging for Putin to explain to his audience, as he would have to justify why he is meeting with a president he thinks is a joke, from a country that doesn't exist in the Russian propaganda's portrayal. Russian propaganda has been calling Zelensky a "toxic figure," accusing him of being a Nazi, drug-addicted, a puppet of the West, and questioning his legitimacy.
Exiled Russian political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya has stated that Putin will not meet Zelensky under the current circumstances. The future of the conflict remains uncertain, with both sides dug in and negotiations stalled. The international community continues to watch closely, hoping for a resolution that brings peace to the region.
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