Putin Cancels Meeting With Zelensky

Zelensky and Putin really hate each other lol ... https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-putin-speech-petersburg-economic-forum/ Mr. Putin said that he sees “no point” in such a meeting, especially after a May 22 drone attack by Ukraine on a college dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region that Moscow said killed 21 and wounded scores of others. In response to Mr. Zelensky’s barbs about his age and long stay in power, the 73-year-old Mr. Putin pointed at other global leaders who are older, adding that “the main thing isn’t age; the main thing is the ability to work.” Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes loaded with symbolism He also mocked Mr. Zelensky’s rocky Oval Office meeting in 2025 and thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for “educating” Mr. Zelensky “before the eyes of the whole world” and teaching him a proper dress code. “There is still a lot to be done,” he said. Mr. Zelensky acknowledged shifting U.S. priorities, saying it would be wrong to simply wait for the Trump administration to return its attention to ending the fighting in Ukraine while it remains heavily focused on the Iran war. In Washington, Mr. Trump said Thursday it “would be great” if Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky meet. Mr. Putin has previously offered for Mr. Zelensky to come to Moscow for talks, an offer that the Ukrainian leader pointedly rejected. Mr. Putin said last month he doesn’t exclude a meeting in a third country, but only when there is a deal to sign. On Thursday, Mr. Putin again rejected Mr. Zelensky’s push for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that Moscow wants a comprehensive settlement, not a temporary truce. Mr. Putin said Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his last year’s summit with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, adding that Ukraine needs to accept them to make a deal to end the conflict. “Naturally, the Ukrainian side would like us to suspend the advances made by Russian troops,” he said. “But it would be better to end the war by agreeing to the compromises that were discussed in Anchorage.” Asked about Iran, Mr. Putin voiced hope for an eventual deal to secure lasting peace. He shrugged off claims that Moscow provided Iran with satellite images, saying that Tehran could use widely available commercial ones. “As for weapons, Iran hasn’t asked us for them and we haven’t supplied any weapons to Iran,” he said, adding that Russia stands ready to take enriched uranium for storage as part of a potential peace deal, and that Moscow has stayed in contact with Iran, the U.S. and Israel.