Putin throws twist on Ukraine peace talks: Is Zelenskiy even authorised to sign a deal?

“That was the best option,” Lavrov insisted, warning that attempts to move away from that document would be “hopeless.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to holding direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but Moscow insists the groundwork must first be done and has raised doubts over Zelenskiy’s authority to ink a peace deal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

The comments came just days after Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, the first Russia-U.S. summit in over four years, where both leaders pledged to push towards ending the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two.

Trump steps in as mediator

Trump, buoyed by the Alaska summit, said earlier this week he has already started arranging a one-on-one meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, followed by a trilateral summit with Washington at the table.

Asked if Putin was ready, Lavrov replied: “Our president has repeatedly said that he is ready to meet, including with Mr. Zelenskiy.”

But Lavrov added two caveats: first, that “all issues requiring consideration at the highest level” must be fully prepared by experts; and second, that Ukraine must resolve the thorny question of who has the legitimacy to sign any future peace agreement.

Moscow questions Zelenskiy’s mandate

Putin has repeatedly cast doubt on Zelenskiy’s legitimacy, arguing that his presidential term technically expired in May 2024. Kyiv counters that wartime law prevents holding elections and insists Zelenskiy remains Ukraine’s rightful leader.

Russian officials say they fear any agreement signed by Zelenskiy could later be challenged by a future Ukrainian administration.

Zelenskiy, for his part, said Kyiv expects a “strong reaction” from Washington if Moscow resists direct talks with him.

Europe wary, Moscow dismissive

European capitals remain sceptical that Putin is serious about peace. Leaders from Britain, France, Germany and Italy—who met Trump and Zelenskiy in Washington earlier this week—are exploring ways to guarantee Ukraine’s security, but with minimal U.S. involvement.

Lavrov, however, accused Europe of working against peace: “They are not interested in a sustainable, fair, long-term settlement… their agenda is the strategic defeat of Russia,” he claimed.

He also attacked what he called the “coalition of the willing,” saying European countries are pushing security guarantees designed to isolate Moscow.

Back to Istanbul?

Lavrov said Ukraine should return to the framework negotiated in Istanbul in 2022, which proposed permanent neutrality for Kyiv in exchange for international security guarantees from the five permanent UN Security Council members — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the U.S.

“That was the best option,” Lavrov insisted, warning that attempts to move away from that document would be “hopeless.”

Kyiv had rejected the Istanbul draft at the time, saying it gave Moscow de facto veto power over any Western military response in Ukraine’s defence.