Kremlin: Putin-Trump-Zelensky meeting possible only to finalize an agreement
The Kremlin has responded to CIA Director Ratcliffe's proposal for a Trump-Putin-Zelensky meeting, saying it could only take place after concrete agreements are reached. Moscow also said it is open to Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey but noted the necessary preconditions are currently lacking.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on Sunday on the idea of a trilateral meeting between the US, Russian and Ukrainian presidents, stressing it could only happen once concrete agreements to end the war had already been reached. According to him, the main purpose of such a summit would be to confirm an existing agreement rather than to restart negotiations from scratch.
Peskov noted that reaching an agreement is a complex process requiring consensus on a large number of details. In his view, Putin's participation in a high-level meeting with Trump and Zelensky would only be useful at the final stage of talks.
Proposal traced to Moscow visit
The idea of a three-way leaders' meeting was reportedly raised in Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to Axios. His unannounced visit to the Russian capital on August 25 drew wide public attention. The Kremlin confirmed contacts had taken place between Russian and US intelligence services, but said no personal meeting occurred between Putin and Ratcliffe — Putin was merely briefed on the outcome of the talks.
Axios sources indicated that one purpose of the visit may have been to determine whether senior Russian intelligence officials could persuade Putin to return to the US-mediated peace negotiations.
Turkey floated as possible venue
Peskov also said Russia is in principle open to talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Turkey, though he added that the necessary preconditions for such talks are currently missing. Overall, the Kremlin's stated position suggests Moscow is in no hurry to back a leaders' summit as a tool for restarting negotiations, viewing it instead as a concluding step after substantial progress has been made through other channels.
