Russian leader Vladimir Putin has said he sees no point in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and instead wants to reach agreements with "key international players".

Source: Putin at a press conference following his visit to Kyrgyzstan, reported by Russian news agency Interfax

Quote: "Of course, in the end we want to reach an agreement with Ukraine. But right now it is practically impossible, impossible legally…

Anyone who can and wants to may conduct negotiations. We need our decisions to be recognised by key international players. That matters."

Details: Putin claimed that "signing documents with the Ukrainian leadership is pointless".

Quote: "I believe the Ukrainian leadership made a fundamental, strategic mistake when it was afraid to hold presidential elections, after which the president lost his legitimate status."

Background: Putin has repeatedly declared that Zelenskyy is an illegitimate president. For example, in May 2024, the Kremlin leader said that Zelenskyy's "legitimacy has ended" and that he, Putin, "needs to understand whom he is dealing with in order to sign documents that are legally binding."

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