Zelenskyy’s team clarifies condition for Istanbul meeting

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will agree to talks in Istanbul only if they involve a direct meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

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

“No, of course, but this isn’t the format. The President cannot meet with just anyone, especially not someone like Medinsky, whose status is unclear — whether he’s an aide on Putin’s historical legacy or there to "correct history," as I’d put it. Such a person is hardly sufficient to discuss fundamental issues,” Podolyak responded when asked if Zelenskyy could negotiate with another Russian representative in Putin’s absence.

He emphasizes that talks at a lower level are pointless, as even individuals with formal ministerial status lack the authority to make key decisions or address fundamental matters.

“There is a person who makes decisions on Ukraine’s side, and moreover, we know the U.S. President has said he could also be a key mediator. And there is a person in Russia who makes decisions. The rest are just formal presences without impactful actions. In other words, it’s just stalling for time, and everyone understands that,” the advisor noted.