Putin Rejects Zelenskyy Meeting Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains open to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin but dismisses ongoing low-level negotiations as futile due to Russia's maximalist demands, which he describes as an ultimatum. President Putin has refused a direct meeting with Zelenskyy, accusing Ukraine of terrorism and questioning the feasibility of negotiations under current conditions, while suggesting any ceasefire would be exploited by Ukraine to bolster its military efforts. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has shown hostility towards Zelenskyy, labeling him a 'bad guy' and expressing more respect for Putin, though he has hesitated to impose new sanctions on Russia and seeks Putin's cooperation on a nuclear deal with Iran. The Kremlin has downplayed the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving Putin, Zelenskyy, and Trump, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it unlikely in the near future, while indicating Russia's preference for direct dialogue with the US. Recent talks between Russia and Ukraine have yielded minimal progress beyond prisoner exchanges, overshadowed by Russian officials' hawkish demands and rhetoric about Ukraine's government. The conflict continues to escalate, with Zelenskyy emphasizing that Putin tends to commit further crimes when feeling weak due to insufficient international pressure.