Journalist Vitaly Portnikov stated this on Espreso TV."No one doubts President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's legitimacy, because the relevant articles of the Constitution emphasize that he can only hand over his office to an elected president of Ukraine. As long as there is no new president and no legal impeachment process has been conducted by the Verkhovna Rada against the current president, Zelenskyy remains a legitimate figure. This legitimate leader may not have enough trust from society, and international allies may have questions for him, but this fact does not decrease or increase his legitimacy," Portnikov explained.The journalist stressed that a ceasefire must happen first, which would be followed by the discussion and finalization of a peace agreement. However, the Russians are pushing the idea of discussing a peace agreement during active combat and the terrorist shelling of Ukrainian civilian cities."I think that when Putin talks about the illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government and Zelenskyy, he is pursuing two goals. First, to show that Ukraine is not a fully independent state, but is instead some kind of union republic. It's as if they in Moscow are the ones deciding if a Ukrainian leader is legitimate, or if a new one needs to be chosen, much like they did with the 'first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.' 'So why don't you convene a plenary session?' That is the framework they are thinking about. Second, after Donald Trump again refused to set any deadlines for the peace process, the situation continues just the way Putin wants it. After all, there are two options. The first is the realistic one: a ceasefire is necessary, and then negotiations for a peace agreement can happen. There must be a ceasefire first, and then a peace agreement. And between these two events, using Israel's experience as an example, 50 years could pass. Or it could be that a peace agreement never happens at all," he added.On November 27, following the CSTO summit in Kyrgyzstan, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin held a press conference where he commented on the peace plan and the war in Ukraine.