Russia's president Vladimir Putin says that he is only ready to meet Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyj in a "final phase" of negotiations.
- I am even ready to meet him, but only if it is some kind of final phase, said Putin at a press conference with foreign media, reports AFP.
The direct negotiations that began between Ukraine and Russia in the middle of May have not led to any major breakthroughs. Zelenskyj has urged Putin to meet him directly, but the Russian president has refused and instead sent representatives at a significantly lower level.
Putin has also rejected the US president Donald Trump's proposal to initiate an immediate ceasefire in the Russian war of attack to facilitate the talks.
