Putin rejects summit with Ukraine, labels Kyiv’s leadership as terrorists
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a proposed leaders’ summit with Ukraine, likening its government to terrorists and citing railway bombings in Russia as sabotage, according to the Kremlin’s recording of his statement.
Putin referenced explosions on June 1 in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk oblasts, labeling them terrorist acts by Ukraine to disrupt Istanbul peace talks, despite Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation denying Kyiv’s intent to derail negotiations and accusing Moscow of staging similar incidents, like the 1999 Ryazan bombings.
He called Ukraine’s leadership “illegitimate” and “morphing into a terrorist organization,” dismissing a 30-day ceasefire and Turkiye’s summit proposal, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had accepted.
“How can we hold such meetings under these conditions? Who negotiates with those betting on terror, with terrorists?” Putin said.
He also defended Russia’s Istanbul delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, claiming Ukraine lacks the authority to critique its competence.
Background
The second round of talks on June 2 secured a prisoner exchange for severely wounded, ill, and soldiers aged 18-25, plus 6,000 bodies per side.
Russia’s 31-point memorandum for peace settlement demands from Ukraine:
- the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from four oblats;
- "international recognition" of the Russian occupation of Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts;
- cessation of mobilization and abolition of martial law within 100 days;
- Ukraine's neutrality with refusal to join any defense alliances;
- limitation of the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, etc.