There is no date for the meeting between Vladimir Zelensky and Vladimir Putin yet.
The details of the potential meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and Russia were told by the representative of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group Oleksiy Arestovich.
At a press conference on May 20, Zelenskiy said that he was working on a meeting with Putin, he needed it in order to revitalize the peace process. And the Kremlin has confirmed that the meeting is being prepared, – said Arestovich.
He added that so far there is no more detailed information, but the fact that the Kremlin has confirmed the meeting is already significant progress.
The speaker of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG believes that the meeting of the heads of Ukraine and Russia, as well as its agenda, will depend on the meeting between Putin and Biden.
“We do not forget that there will be a meeting between Biden and Putin, at which, in particular, the Ukrainian agenda will also be decided. This agenda is coordinated with the President’s Office very closely”, – he said.
Arestovich stressed that one cannot say that the Americans want to reach an agreement without Ukraine, on the contrary, the American administration is actively in contact with the Ukrainian side. In addition, the speaker of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG hopes that it will be possible to reach agreement on the process of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbass, as well as the exchange of detainees, the full opening of the checkpoint, a ceasefire and the like.
“But I would not like to give hope. After all, another problem has already formed, which will remain forever – the Russians spent 8 years on the creation of the so-called “LPR” and “DPR”, billions of dollars, lost billions due to sanctions, thousands of lives. And they are unlikely to give up this tool so easily”, – he said.
Arestovich recalled that the main political desire of the Kremlin is to force Kiev to enter into direct negotiations with the so-called “LPR” and “DPR”. At the same time, there are forces in the West that also want this. Therefore, Ukraine has to firmly defend its national interests.