Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said on the 18th (local time), "President Putin has repeatedly stated that he is willing to negotiate with Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, if necessary."
According to TASS news agency, Peskov held a briefing and stated that serious discussions are needed on how to secure legal grounds considering the legitimacy issue of President Zelensky.
President Zelensky has been serving as president under martial law without elections since his term ended in May last year. Russia holds the position that Zelensky's continuation in office is illegal.
Additionally, Peskov explained regarding Ukraine's push for European Union (EU) membership, "It is a matter of economic integration and the sovereign rights of all countries." This implies no interference in economic matters.
However, on the issue of Ukraine's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership, he added, "Security issues and military alliances are completely different," and "As is well known, we approach this differently." This means opposition to NATO membership remains unchanged.
Meanwhile, regarding the date of the summit between President Putin and President Trump, he responded that nothing has been announced yet. He mentioned, "Based on today's (Saudi) meeting results, some estimates may emerge, but we will know after this dialogue concludes."
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