Putin Hesitates on Zelenskyy Meeting Despite Trump Push/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia signaled caution Tuesday over U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a Putin-Zelenskyy summit to end the war in Ukraine. Moscow said any talks must progress “step by step” from lower levels, casting doubt on immediate high-level negotiations. European leaders welcome progress but remain skeptical of Putin’s commitment.
Moscow Peace Talks Quick Looks
- Trump is pushing for a trilateral summit with himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy.
- Moscow cools expectations, saying talks must begin at the “expert level.”
- Russia’s approach mirrors previous stalling tactics used in past negotiations.
- Trump called Putin directly after his White House meetings with Zelenskyy and EU leaders.
- Zelenskyy expressed optimism, saying a summit could be formalized within 10 days.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed dialogue but warned “we’re not there yet.”
- Putin insists on addressing “root causes” of conflict, including NATO ambitions and land concessions.
- European leaders like Macron and Merz caution that Putin may avoid direct talks.
- Macron says next 15 days are crucial to secure meaningful security guarantees.
- Russia’s message: willing to talk about talks, not commit to summit.
Deep Look: Moscow Wavers on Putin-Zelenskyy Summit as Trump Turns Up the Pressure
MOSCOW — Optimism surrounding a potential peace summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin dimmed Tuesday, as Moscow signaled it would proceed only cautiously with negotiations. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s high-profile push for a trilateral summit, Russia emphasized that talks must advance gradually, beginning with lower-level expert discussions rather than an immediate head-of-state meeting.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking on the state-controlled Rossiya-24 channel, made clear that Moscow does not reject negotiations outright but views a direct summit as premature.
“Talks would come step by step, gradually, starting from the expert level and then going through all the necessary stages,” Lavrov said. The language echoed Moscow’s familiar strategy of agreeing in principle but delaying in practice, as seen in earlier efforts this year.
Trump’s Push for a Breakthrough
The hesitation comes after Trump personally called Putin on Monday, following a White House meeting with Zelenskyy and several European leaders. Trump touted the call as the beginning of arranging a Putin-Zelenskyy face-to-face meeting at a to-be-determined location, declaring:
“I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me.”
Trump’s remark, caught on a hot mic with French President Emmanuel Macron, underscored his belief that his personal diplomacy could achieve what others have not. For Trump, brokering such a summit would mark a signature foreign policy victory and a major step toward ending a conflict that has now stretched for nearly three years.
Ukraine Says It’s Ready
Zelenskyy welcomed the possibility of direct talks, telling reporters at the White House that a summit could be formalized within the next week to 10 days. He has long argued that direct engagement with Putin is essential for peace, even as Russia continues to press military advances and hold firm to sweeping demands.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the notion that Putin might even consider such a meeting.
“Just the fact that Putin is saying, ‘sure, I’ll meet with Zelenskyy’ — that’s a big deal,” he said in a Fox News interview. Still, Rubio tempered optimism, warning that “we’re not there yet.”
Russia’s Demands Remain Firm
Even as speculation swirls about potential talks, Putin has shown little willingness to alter his conditions for ending the war. In a meeting with Trump in Alaska last week, Putin reiterated that the “root causes” of the conflict must be resolved, pointing to his long-standing demands:
- Ukraine must adopt neutral status, abandoning its bid to join NATO.
- Kyiv must cede additional land in eastern Ukraine, where heavy fighting continues.
- Ukraine’s military must be significantly reduced, limiting its defensive capabilities.
These demands have been firmly rejected by Zelenskyy and Western leaders, who argue that such concessions would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and embolden further Russian aggression.
Europe Watches Warily
European leaders remain cautious about the prospects of a Putin-Zelenskyy summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Trump and Putin had discussed holding a meeting within two weeks but admitted uncertainty about whether Putin would actually attend.
“We don’t know whether the Russian president will have the courage to attend such a summit,” Merz said. “Therefore, persuasion is needed.”
French President Emmanuel Macron went further, stressing that the next 15 days are critical. Speaking with French broadcaster LCI, Macron said progress with the U.S. on security guarantees must be finalized soon.
“Putin’s decision to participate or not will clear up ambiguities and show whether he is serious about peace,” Macron added.
Familiar Russian Strategy: Delay
For now, Russia’s stance appears to be one of calibrated ambiguity — signaling openness to negotiations while setting conditions that slow the process. Analysts note that Moscow used the same approach in May 2025, when Putin suggested meeting Zelenskyy but instead sent a lower-level delegation.
This pattern raises concerns that Russia is using talks to buy time, consolidate military positions, and shape political narratives ahead of crucial decisions in Washington and European capitals.
Outlook: Waiting on Moscow
Trump and his allies are eager to frame the possibility of a summit as a diplomatic breakthrough. But Moscow’s message is more restrained: discussions may continue, but a direct Putin-Zelenskyy meeting is far from certain.
With Ukraine pushing for urgency, the U.S. applying pressure, and Europe stressing caution, the question remains whether Putin is genuinely interested in peace negotiations — or simply stalling while pursuing his war aims.
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