Beijing: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Thursday that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but only after key issues are resolved and thorough preparations are completed.

Speaking during his visit to China, Lavrov emphasized that any summit between the two leaders must first be preceded by detailed discussions among expert groups and ministers. He also raised doubts about Zelenskiy’s legitimacy, noting that his official presidential term ended in May 2024, though Kyiv maintains his continuation in office due to wartime conditions.

Lavrov pointed to the draft framework negotiated in Istanbul in 2022 as the preferred foundation for future talks. That proposal envisioned Ukraine adopting permanent neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

The Russian foreign minister criticized European leaders for undermining the progress made during the recent Alaska summit between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, where the possibility of a Putin–Zelenskiy meeting was first floated. While the White House has expressed optimism that such a meeting will take place, Moscow insists that significant groundwork must be done before any talks occur.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has made clear that it seeks firm and enforceable security guarantees before agreeing to any leader-level dialogue. President Zelenskiy has warned that Moscow must present clear concessions, particularly regarding occupied territories, or risk provoking a strong response from the United States and its allies.

NATO countries are simultaneously working on an alternative security framework for Ukraine through a so-called “coalition of the willing,” independent of Russian involvement. Moscow has dismissed these efforts, accusing Kyiv and Western powers of stalling comprehensive negotiations.

Analysts note that while Putin has gained political leverage through recent diplomacy, including the Alaska talks, his insistence on preconditions and maximalist demands could limit real progress. The coming weeks are expected to be critical in determining whether the groundwork for a Putin–Zelenskiy summit can be established and whether such a meeting would take place bilaterally or with the involvement of other world leaders.