Ambitious discussions for a potential summit between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are facing hurdles, just days after Donald Trump expressed his belief that such a meeting could happen soon. Several locations, including Geneva, Vienna, Budapest, and Istanbul, have been speculated as possible venues for the summit. Both leaders have not met in person since 2019, prior to Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
President Biden mentioned initiating arrangements for the summit, indicating that he believed Putin had consented during a phone call. However, the Kremlin’s subsequent statement about the conversation was less optimistic, suggesting that "the possibility of raising the level of representatives" could entail only ministerial involvement rather than a direct meeting between the presidents.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested a meeting could occur within the next two weeks, although he questioned Putin's willingness to attend and urged for persuasion. Trump warned of severe consequences for Russia if Putin does not engage in peace negotiations but did not elaborate further.
As discussions wane, the reality of a meeting seems even further away. Moscow appears to express willingness for talks, yet the preconditions set by the Kremlin are likely to be unacceptable to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Putin is open to meeting Zelensky, contingent upon prior resolution of all "issues" at the highest level, language reminiscent of prior Russian tactics to dismiss Ukrainian meeting requests.
A Trump envoy recently claimed that Russia was willing to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, a significant step, but it appears these proposals echo outdated terms rejected by Kyiv in 2022, demanding that Russia holds veto power over any military interventions on Ukraine's behalf, raising serious concerns for Zelensky.
Zelensky has asserted that any meeting must follow agreement on security guarantees from Kyiv's allies, likely requiring Western support and excluding Russia—conditions Moscow would not accept. Given the entrenched positions of both sides, each accuses the other of sabotaging peace efforts.
Despite the remote possibility of negotiations, speculation about potential meeting sites persists. Hungarian officials have offered Budapest as a location, with assurances of safe conditions; however, Zelensky has expressed reservations due to Hungary’s historic lack of support for Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opposes Budapest, recalling its controversial past regarding Ukrainian concessions. French President Macron suggested Switzerland as a neutral ground for the summit. Meanwhile, Turkey, where prior delegation-level talks occurred, remains a potential choice, alongside mentions of the Vatican and Saudi Arabia, which has facilitated past exchanges between the two nations.
As military actions continue unabated, with Ukraine alleging strikes on Russian territory and Russia launching significant attacks on Ukraine, Zelensky emphasizes the lack of genuine signals from Moscow for meaningful negotiation. In his view, continuous pressure is essential to prompt constructive dialogue.
