Ukraine ready to amend documents prohibiting talks with Putin: Podolyak names condition

Ukraine is ready to introduce “legal adjustments” to the decree prohibiting talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin, but only if Putin actually comes to Istanbul.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, shared this on The Breakfast Show.

Negotiations with Putin: Ukraine is ready

Podolyak clarifies that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet only with Vladimir Putin himself in Istanbul, and no other Russian representatives. He states that if Russia’s highest-level leadership is not present in Türkiye, it would indicate Moscow’s unwillingness to cease fire, end the war, or engage in direct talks.

Podolyak emphasizes that if Putin attends the Istanbul meeting, “legal adjustments” will be made to Ukrainian documents prohibiting negotiations with the Russian president.

“We do not consider Putin a legitimate president, but he effectively controls Russia single-handedly. Therefore, legally, it will be sufficient to simply amend the NSDC decision, and the necessary legal regulatory norms will be adopted,” Podolyak explains.