Putin Questions Legitimacy of Ukrainian Leadership
(MENAFN) Russian Leader Vladimir Putin expressed readiness on Thursday to engage in dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but raised doubts about the authority of Ukraine’s current leadership to finalize a peace accord.
He suggested that signing any ultimate agreement under such circumstances could lead to the deal being invalidated.
During a gathering with prominent international news agency leaders in St. Petersburg, Putin remarked: “I said that I am ready to meet with everyone, including Zelenskyy. That is not the question. If the Ukrainian state trusts someone to negotiate, for God’s sake, let it be with Zelenskyy.”
However, he emphasized that the fundamental concern lies not with the meeting itself, but with who would ultimately endorse any potential settlement.
Putin stressed the legal weight of any resolution, highlighting that public messaging is secondary to legal legitimacy when resolving major matters.
“When solving serious issues, it is not the propaganda component that is important, but the legal one,” he stated, casting doubt on whether an “illegitimate” Ukrainian leader could officially approve a binding pact.
He added, “We don’t care who conducts the negotiations, even if it is the current head of the regime. I am even ready to meet. But if this is some kind of final stage…the signature must be of the legitimate authorities.”
Putin cautioned that any agreement lacking valid authorization might be rejected by a future leader, saying, “the next one will come and throw it all in the trash,” which he described as unacceptable when dealing with “serious issues.”
Furthermore, Putin questioned Germany’s potential to serve as an impartial intermediary in the ongoing conflict, noting Berlin’s active military role in Ukraine.
He commented, “Can Germany contribute more than the United States as a mediator in our negotiations with Ukraine? I doubt it,” underscoring that “a mediator must be neutral.”
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
