Kremlin rejects Ukraine’s push for Zelenskyy-Putin talks as premature

Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said this at a briefing on July 24, TASS reports.

“They are trying to put the cart before the horse. First, all the work needs to be done, and only then should the leaders be given the opportunity to formalize the progress made,” he said.

Peskov noted that Russia did not expect a breakthrough during the third round of negotiations in Istanbul but called the meeting constructive.

“The agenda is constructive, specific, and focused on substantive work that could lead to concrete results,” he told reporters.

Putin’s spokesperson emphasized the Kremlin’s intentions to create buffer zones on Ukrainian territory.

“The fact that they are trying to shift various elements of the war onto our territory is not new. That is why our military is doing everything possible to create certain buffer zones and, most importantly, to destroy the military and paramilitary infrastructure of the Ukrainian regime,” Peskov stated.

• On July 23 in Istanbul, the third round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place. The main topics were ceasefire, prisoner release, and organizing a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.