This opinion was expressed on Espreso TV by diplomat Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN (2015–2019) and Ambassador to the United States (2020–2021).“Zelenskyy’s readiness for a meeting with Putin does not necessarily mean it will happen. Indeed, today there are no reasons that would push Putin to agree to such talks. Perhaps Trump could pressure him, but I don’t think Putin would give in. The fact is that Ukraine and Russia have such different positions that it’s not even clear what issue they could start discussing. Not to mention questions of territory, reparations, and so on. That’s why I find it very difficult to imagine a picture where Zelenskyy and Putin sit at one table and calmly talk about something,” Yelchenko explained.The diplomat stressed that organizing a meeting of this level requires time and painstaking preparation.“Moreover, we haven’t heard a single word from Putin about any such readiness. The fact that Trump, Europeans, and the Ukrainian president talk about it doesn’t mean the Russian dictator will agree to such a meeting. Everyone understands there’s no sense in discussing an end to this terrible war at a lower level. But it’s important to note one detail: even in peacetime, such a meeting would require serious preparation. That means expert-level contacts, some negotiating groups, so that the presidents could simply put the final word on certain agreements,” he added.On August 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House, where he was welcomed by Trump. The leaders first held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, then met with European leaders and the NATO Secretary General. Talks later continued in another format.Following the meeting, Trump announced he had begun preparing for a summit between Zelenskyy and Putin.Trump also called Russian leader Vladimir Putin after his talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders.Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he was ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin without any preconditions.Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia does not reject bilateral or trilateral peace talks with Ukraine.