Putin called Zelensky's open letter "boorishness". And refused to meet him
During his speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin commented on the open letter from Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the Ukrainian president proposed a personal meeting and a ceasefire.
Vladimir Putin. Photo: Kirill Kazachkov / Roscongress Foundation via AP
Putin stated that he familiarized himself with the letter after his press secretary Dmitry Peskov handed it to him. He expressed a markedly disdainful attitude towards the letter, saying, "Peskov showed me Zelensky's letter yesterday, I looked at this piece of paper in the morning."
Commenting on the mention of his age in the letter, he declared that the main thing for a politician is not years, but the ability to work effectively and fulfill one's duties.
Putin responded negatively to the proposal of a personal meeting with Zelensky. According to him, Ukraine seeks to stop the Russian offensive, while Russia is interested in long-term agreements, not a temporary truce. He also noted that Moscow does not want a repeat of agreements similar to the previous Minsk agreements.
Putin expressed incomprehension as to why Kyiv does not want to see Donald Trump's administration as a guarantor of possible future agreements. At the same time, he thanked Trump for his efforts in correcting Zelensky's "manners" and added that work in this direction is not yet complete.
The Russian leader also stated that Zelensky allegedly recently conveyed to him a request for a personal meeting through a Russian businessman. According to Putin, this happened on May 21. He called the public discussion around this topic incorrect, and characterized the tone of the letter as unacceptable, as it allegedly contains "boorish elements."
Finally, Putin urged Zelensky not to be afraid to participate in elections and, addressing Russian servicemen, said: "Work, brothers."