Zelenskyy accuses Russia of thwarting meeting with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has leveled sharp accusations against Russia, stating that Moscow "is doing everything possible" to thwart a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the conflict. These words came against a backdrop of escalating tensions and ongoing military actions that cast a shadow over diplomatic efforts.

The international community, led by the U.S., is trying to find a way out of the crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has personally committed to mediation, said on Friday that attempts to bring the two leaders together are like mixing "oil and vinegar... they don't get along too well". His words underscore the deep mutual mistrust and antagonism that are preventing any progress from being made.

In response to Kyiv's accusations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov presented Moscow's official position, claiming that Putin is ready for a meeting with the Ukrainian leader, but only "when the summit's agenda is ready, and that agenda is not ready at all". Lavrov also made counter-criticism against Zelensky, accusing him of saying "no to everything". These mutual accusations demonstrate the deep rift in the positions of the two sides, making finding common ground extremely difficult.

Diplomatic maneuvers, which included an intense week of negotiations, do not appear to have yielded the expected results. U.S. President Donald Trump first met with his Russian counterpart Putin in Alaska, and then Ukrainian President Zelensky spoke with European leaders in Washington. Despite the efforts and travels, the war, in Trump's words, has proven to be the most difficult conflict he has ever tried to stop. This assessment, coming from the highest level of the U.S. administration, underscores the seriousness of the situation and the challenges facing diplomacy.