Moscow deems the circumstances for a summit inadequate

In recent developments, a potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains elusive, with tensions continuing to escalate in Ukraine.

According to reports, Zelensky has turned down all conditions proposed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the summit. The conditions, which include territorial concessions and Ukraine's renunciation of membership in the Western military alliance, have been met with resistance from the Ukrainian side.

Russia, which has controlled the Crimean Peninsula since 2014, has almost completely occupied the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine and partially occupied the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Moscow's demands to freeze the front in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are contingent upon Kiev fully abandoning the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

U.S. President Donald Trump, along with Zelensky and European political leaders, discussed a peace process for Ukraine following the Alaska summit last Friday. Trump has been advocating for a summit between Putin and Zelensky to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, Foreign Minister Lavrov has stated that a near-term summit is unrealistic for Russia.

During a visit to Kiev on Friday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Trump for bringing movement to the negotiations. Rutte described the security guarantees, which are an important factor for lasting peace in Ukraine, as a significant step forward.

Zelensky has accused Moscow of not being interested in peace, claiming that the signals from Russia are "indecent" and that Russia is trying to avoid the necessity of a meeting. The Ukrainian side has expressed readiness for talks, supported by third countries like Turkey and Gulf states, but Russia insists on prior agreement on key issues before any summit.

In response to the ongoing conflict, Zelensky has reported that Russia continues its massive attacks against Ukraine and its very intense attacks on the front. Despite these challenges, Zelensky has maintained a hopeful tone, stating that he remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the international community will be closely monitoring developments and working towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.