‘There’s no point!’ – Putin on Zelensky’s demand for meeting in ‘open letter’

Putin Dismisses Need for Direct Meeting

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he sees no point in meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky over ending the conflict, commenting on his open letter during the SPIEF plenary session on Friday.

“I don’t see the point in the meeting” he stated. “The point is only for the Ukrainian side – to stop the advance of our troops. And we need agreements. Not for six months, not for three months, but for a long historical perspective. Let the specialists work, develop some solutions, and after that, we can meet, take part in the signing of some documents. But first, you need to find a solution. And here is the most important thing.”

Focus on Long-Term Agreements

Putin added that the document has some ‘rude remarks’.

“What is this? Is it a way to create conditions for a personal meeting and negotiations, or is it creating an environment in which it is impossible to hold any personal meetings? I think it’s the latter,” he added.

On June 4, Zelensky posted on his Telegram channel a message to Putin asking for direct talks.

The 29th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) takes place on June 3-6. More than 20,000 people are set to attend, with politicians from around 76 countries making the journey. Since its establishment in 1997, the forum has served as a platform for international dialogue on global economic issues. Vladimir Putin has taken part in the event regularly since 2005.