Putin-Zelensky meeting impossible as long as Kiev continues talks on Crimea, Kremlin warns – world

MOSCOW, September 13. / TASS /. A meeting between Russian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine is not possible as long as Kiev intends to raise the subject of Crimea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

“No it would be out of the question [to discuss Crimea] if the issue is raised. Discussing Crimea is clearly not possible. Therefore, this wording calls into question the hypothetical possibility of such a meeting, “Peskov said, commenting on reports that Kiev was considering discussing the status of Crimea in potential negotiations with Moscow.

The Kremlin spokesman noted that a meeting between the two leaders was possible if the agenda included measures from Kiev to implement the Minsk accords and decisions taken at the Paris summit of the Normandy Four group. , as well as bilateral relations.

Zelensky spokesman Sergei Nikiforov said earlier that the Ukrainian president was ready to hold a meeting with Putin at any time to discuss issues related to territories that Kiev did not control, including Crimea. In April, Zelensky sought to meet with Putin to discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Russian leader, in turn, noted on April 22 that with regard to the Donbass issues, the Ukrainian authorities should first meet with the leaders of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. Putin also said he was ready to receive Zelensky in Moscow at any convenient time as long as it came to strengthening bilateral ties. Peskov later confirmed that the two countries were maintaining contact on the organization of a bilateral summit but, in his own words, “the process is not going smoothly.”