Will Zelenskyy and Putin meet in Istanbul? The expert responds

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready for negotiations with Donald Trump as a mediator, but the chances of a meeting with Vladimir Putin remain very slim.

This was stated by political analyst Vitaly Portnikov during a broadcast on the «Espreso» TV channel.

According to Portnikov, the Kremlin officially does not recognize Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, believing that his presidential term has long expired. This makes direct negotiations between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia impossible.

«To meet with Zelenskyy would mean recognizing his legitimacy — something that is absolutely unacceptable for the Russian political leadership, ” the expert explained.

In Moscow, they believe that even if Zelenskyy participates in negotiations, all documents must be signed by other individuals. Russia insists on elections being held in Ukraine before signing any agreements, which is political demagoguery and a violation of international law.

Portnikov emphasizes that U.S. President Donald Trump has no real ability to force Putin to meet with Zelenskyy. For Putin, personal meetings with Trump are a kind of reward, and the true «path to resolving» the war, in Portnikov’s view, could lie through the elimination of Ukrainian sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Türkiye is initiating a broad international conference involving Putin, Zelenskyy, Trump, and Erdoğan. This would allow the Kremlin more room to maneuver, but whether Putin will agree to such a format remains unknown.