Zelensky administration still trying to arrange Putin meeting

The Ukrainian
leadership is still trying to arrange a meeting this month with Russian
President Putin, Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko told a television talk show
on Nov. 11. The Ukrainian public elected Zelensky for the very purpose of
talking to Putin to achieve new relations with Russia, he said. “Every head of
state makes an honest attempt – not to reach an agreement with Putin – but to
find some kind of possibility to cooperate, a possibility to build relations so
that people don’t die, so that our trade – if does not blossom – then does not
die,” Prystaiko said. “And I believe that we, Ukrainians, who gave the chance
to a concrete person – Volodymyr Zelensky – to become president and move this
country forward not only are counting on, but are demanding from him to make
this attempt. He is doing it now and we are observing it now.”

At the same time,
Prystaiko recognized that he doesn’t have high expectations for the anticipated
meeting between the two presidents. “We – and particularly those of us who have
been in this business for a long time, like me – understand that we will hardly
achieve some kind of serious, significant progress. Both on the other hand, we
can’t not try on behalf of the people,” he said.

Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Nov. 11
that he is arranging a bilateral meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky
in Kazakhstan in November. “I believe that a separate meeting is necessary
between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. I spoke about whether such a
face-to-face meeting is possible to discuss all issues,” Nazarbayev said,
referring to his October meeting with Zelensky in Japan and with Putin by
telephone. “It seems to me that moment now is good. I have already gained
agreement from Zelensky on a face-to-face meeting. I informed the Russian
president of this. If a neutral location is necessary, I proposed Kazakhstan,”
Nazarbayev said, as reported by the inform.kz news site, citing his remarks to
the fifth annual meeting of the Astana Club.

Zenon Zawada: We don’t expect Putin will agree to
meet with Zelensky before the New Year because it’s to the Russian president’s
advantage to wait until afterwards. Ukraine’s negotiating position will worsen
after natural gas supplies are cut and if an IMF loan program isn’t agreed upon
by then. Moreover, the more Zelensky’s popularity falls, the more desperate he
will be to accept the Kremlin’s demands.