The Kremlin has downplayed the possibility of a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy taking place before the end of August, despite Kyiv’s recent proposal during negotiations in Istanbul earlier this week.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that a presidential-level summit would only be appropriate once the groundwork for a comprehensive agreement has been completed by diplomatic and technical experts.

“A summit at the highest level should bring a final resolution and formalize the terms of agreements that still need to be worked out through expert discussions,” Peskov stated. “It’s impossible to do this the other way around. Is it realistic to complete such a complex process in 30 days? Obviously, it’s highly unlikely.”

The remarks come after the latest round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, where Kyiv reportedly proposed a leaders’ summit to break the deadlock in negotiations. However, Moscow remains cautious, pointing to significant unresolved issues.

Peskov revealed that the draft memorandums exchanged by both sides during the previous negotiation round in early June reflect sharply divergent positions.

“The proposals are diametrically opposed,” he said. “It’s unlikely these can be reconciled overnight. This will require very complex diplomatic work.”

The Kremlin’s position signals that while dialogue between the two nations continues, any breakthrough is likely to take time, with expert-level discussions expected to resume in the coming weeks.

There has been no immediate response from Ukrainian officials regarding the Kremlin’s statement. However, Kyiv has consistently maintained that a direct meeting between the two presidents could play a decisive role in resolving the conflict. (ILKHA)