Cautious Kremlin Tempers US Hopes for Quick Putin-Zelenskyy Summit

The Kremlin’s cautious public stance is tempering American hopes for a rapid peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While the White House has announced a two-week timeline, Moscow’s messaging suggests a more protracted process.
The U.S. announcement came after President Donald Trump’s phone call with Putin, which the White House says resulted in an agreement for the meeting. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was firm in stating that Putin had consented to the two-week schedule.
However, this optimism was met with a dose of Russian pragmatism. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, without rejecting the possibility of a summit, underscored that such an event “must be prepared with utmost thoroughness.” This remark is widely seen as a signal that Russia will dictate its own pace and will not be rushed by Washington.
This diplomatic dissonance creates uncertainty around the talks, which are intended to address the core issues of the war. President Zelenskyy is prepared to negotiate directly with Putin over territory. Meanwhile, Ukraine is working with its partners to secure long-term security guarantees, a plan that could involve U.S. air support.