THE Vladimir Putin openly despises the Volodimir Zelenski. The Russian president rarely mentions his name, describes him as “illegal” and lets the state media ridicule him as “clowns”. But the diplomatic initiative that Donald Trump started is based on a case: sooner or later, the two opponents will have to sit face to face to end the war in Ukraine.
THE Donald Trump He said on Monday (18.08.2025) that “he started the procedures” in this direction, during a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, shortly after his meeting with Volodimir Zelenski Zelenski and several European leaders in the White House. Thus, in Moscow an explosive question was rekindled: will the Kremlin leader finally accept to talk directly with the one who refuses to recognize as equivalent?
A meeting that would not be made unconditionally
For the Kremlin, a possible Putin -Chalenski session could only take place if Kiev receives significant concessions, equivalent to capitulation: territorial concessions, armed forces restriction and recognition of Russian demands on issues of sovereignty. “Such a private encounter could only take place to validate a capitulation,” estimates political scientist Grigori Golosov of St. Petersburg, according to the New York Times.
Some circles of Russian power even believe that only the acceptance of a meeting with Zelenski would already constitute a political concession. “Russia repeats everywhere that Zelensky is illegal. A meeting would be a compromise to support Trump’s mediating efforts, “says MP Konstantin Zatolulin.
US pressures and Russian calculations
In recent days, Vladimir Putin has spoken by phone with many foreign leaders – from Saudi Arabia and India to South Africa – to inform them of developments in the negotiations. A sign, according to analysts, that the Kremlin takes seriously the dynamics created by Trump.
However, the image of a Zelenski sitting as an equal to Putin would undo years of Russian propaganda, based on the idea that the Ukrainian president is leading a “criminal regime” responsible for genocide against Russian -speaking. At the moment, the Kremlin continues to send contradictory messages: it does not exclude a meeting, but insists that it is not imminent.
Trump’s obsession
The US president plays a central role in this scenario. “Russia wants to show that it is ready to reach an agreement with Trump, and that affects its choices,” Zatolin analyzes. Trump, for his part, insists on the need for a individual meeting instead of a tripartite form with himself.
Moscow could therefore accept whether it allows it to formalize an agreement that the Kremlin will present as a victory. And since Putin thinks that Zelenski’s concessions are sufficient. But for many observers, the possibility of such a meeting remains distant.
Meanwhile, Russian television channels continue to attack Zelenski, ironic his “clumsy” English and his “student” attitude during his visit to Washington. A propaganda that, however, could change tone from one moment to another if the Kremlin suddenly deems useful to show Putin and Zelenski side by side.