Russian leader rejects talks with Ukrainian counterpart, pledges to press on with military objectives

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the possibility of meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, anytime soon, citing a lack of progress on a potential peace deal as the primary reason for his decision.

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This announcement comes a day after Zelensky called for a meeting between the two leaders to bring an end to the four-year war, with Putin stating that he sees "no point" in such a meeting until certain conditions are met.

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Zelensky has responded to Putin's refusal, characterizing the Russian leader as "weak" and accusing him of choosing to continue the war, a stance that Zelensky believes is counterproductive to finding a peaceful resolution.

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Putin has reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing Russia's military objectives in Ukraine, emphasizing that the conflict will only cease once Russia's goals have been achieved, which includes gaining control of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and imposing significant political and military restrictions on the country.

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These demands have been met with resistance from Kyiv and its allies, who view them as tantamount to surrender, and US-brokered peace talks have thus far failed to yield any significant progress in resolving the conflict.

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Zelensky had issued a direct appeal to Putin on Thursday, proposing a meeting between the two leaders to discuss a potential peace deal, but Putin refused, suggesting that such a meeting would only be worthwhile once Ukraine had stopped the advance of Russian forces and agreements had been reached.

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The conflict, which began in February 2022, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the destruction of large swaths of eastern and southern Ukraine, with millions more forced to flee their homes.

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Russia launched new attacks on Friday, resulting in the deaths of four civilians and injuring seven others in the Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian authorities.

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Zelensky believes that a summit is necessary to address the key issues surrounding a potential peace deal, but Putin's refusal to meet has been seen as a significant setback to these efforts.

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Zelensky's proposal had garnered support from key allies, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, and he is scheduled to meet with Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on Sunday to discuss ways to revitalize diplomatic efforts.

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Putin remains resolute in his commitment to achieving Russia's objectives in Ukraine, stating that "military actions will end some day" once Russia's goals have been met.

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The Russian leader also addressed concerns about the state of the Russian economy, which has been placed under significant strain due to the high costs of the war, with rising prices, tax hikes, and increased borrowing costs affecting many citizens.

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Putin dismissed claims that the Russian economy was on the brink of collapse, instead suggesting that the country was pursuing a "sovereign" economy and that its economic situation was comparable to that of eurozone countries.

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Putin's comments came just two days after the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which was marred by Ukrainian drone strikes on the city.

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The SPIEF, once dubbed the "Russian Davos," has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with a shift in focus from attracting Western investors to promoting investment in regions annexed from Ukraine.

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The event featured a range of exhibits, including Russian-made humanoid robots and displays of military equipment, with attendees including former Hollywood star Steven Seagal, American conspiracy theorist Candace Owens, and MPs from the far-right Alternative for Germany party.