Under what сonditions will Putin agree to meet with Zelenskyy? Expert explains

Pavlo Lakiichuk, head of Security Programs at the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, said this on Espreso.TV.

"As for Putin, everything is clear. He will agree to meet with Zelenskyy only to sign an act of unconditional surrender. Russia has a “holiday” - Victory Day, when Keitel and Zhukov signed the surrender. It is precisely for the sake of this scenario that Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy. He has talked about it, is talking about it, and will continue to talk about it. That's why they send Medynsky with the so-called Istanbul Protocol every time, so that it can be handed over to Zelenskyy for his signature.

Each time Medinsky is sent somewhere else with these Istanbul papers. Then he returns to Putin, and the latter says: “Well, you'll go again, and we'll add something else - say, Sumy or Dnipro.” That's Putin's whole plan," Lakiychuk believes.

According to the head of security programs at the Center for Global Studies Strategy XXI, Putin is not changing his position. He only needs the diplomatic track to achieve his military goals through non-military means.

"This is what all dictators want. If Ukraine surrenders without the Russian army advancing, if it gives up Odesa or Mykolaiv without a fight, signing a piece of paper, then of course Putin will agree to such a meeting. Then he can send Lavrov, not Medinsky, but Lavrov. Or maybe he will go himself. Although I doubt very much that he will do so. Unless he summons Zelenskyy to Minsk, Voronezh, or, say, Mariupol to sign an act of surrender," Lakiichuk suggested.

• Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia says that a direct meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia is necessary to achieve significant progress in a peaceful settlement.