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Putin Says He’s Ready to Meet Zelenskyy, But Refuses to Recognize His Legitimacy
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Russian leader Vladimir Putin has said he is ready for peace talks with Ukraine but refuses to recognize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a legitimate authority capable of signing any international agreements, Putin said during a meeting with international news agencies, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported on June 19.
“We don’t care who we negotiate with. I’m even ready to meet with Zelenskyy. But when it comes to the final stage… the signature must come from a legitimate authority,” Putin said, implying that Zelenskyy is not a valid counterpart for any peace agreement.
Although Putin claimed that Russia is open to negotiations and that he is willing to meet “with everyone,” including Zelenskyy, he cast doubt on the Ukrainian President’s mandate, arguing that his term in office had allegedly expired under Ukraine’s constitution.

“According to the Constitution of Ukraine, his term has ended,” Putin stated, repeating a talking point that has been widely debunked by Ukrainian and international legal experts.
Putin also claimed that Ukraine is a “presidential-parliamentary republic” in which all state institutions are formed by the president. Based on this interpretation, he suggested that Zelenskyy’s continued leadership casts doubt on the legitimacy of Ukraine’s entire government.
Zelenskyy’s term officially ended in May 2024, but Ukraine’s constitution allows the president to remain in office during wartime until elections can be held safely. Both the Ukrainian parliament and Constitutional Court have affirmed the legal continuity of Zelenskyy’s presidency under martial law, which has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Earlier, reports emerged that Putin was attempting to divert international attention from Russia’s war against Ukraine by offering the United States assistance in resolving escalating tensions in the Middle East.
