Putin says he sees no need to meet with Zelensky. And the last one comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he saw no reason to hold a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the moment, after Zelensky published an open letter proposing direct talks to agree an end to the war.

Putin added in his remarks on Saturday that Zelensky's message was "blunt" in some parts and did not appear to be a sincere offer of talks.

"This letter contains some references that are rather blunt. Is this a way to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting or a way not to have a face-to-face meeting? I think it was the second way."

Putin: Zelensky is not a legitimate leader

Putin made remarks last weekend in which he stressed that US President Donald Trump's peace proposals could form the basis for a peace deal with Ukraine, but also noted that Trump still needs to convince Kyiv.

 Putin said Trump is "sincerely" seeking to resolve the Ukrainian conflict as part of efforts to end the war,  adding that he does not rule out the possibility of signing a peace agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, if a final agreement is reached between the parties concerned.

He said earlier that Zelensky is not a legitimate leader because he continued in office after his term ended, while Ukrainian law prohibits holding new elections during the period of martial law imposed since the start of the war in 2022.

Putin told foreign journalists in St. Petersburg that if a peace deal is reached, Russia will sign an agreement with legitimate representatives of Ukraine, and perhaps "even with Zelensky."

Zelensky responds

In a later development, Zelensky said that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's rejection of a proposal to hold a meeting to end the conflict that has been going on for more than four years shows that the Kremlin does not want to end the war.

"Unfortunately, the Russian side is choosing war again, and everyone is hearing the response. Weak response. I think this response will disappoint many in the world."

 In an open letter to Putin on Friday, Zelensky  called for a face-to-face meeting with the aim of ending the war that has been going on since February 2022.

He also announced Kyiv's readiness for a comprehensive ceasefire throughout the negotiations, and proposed a full prisoner of war exchange between the two sides.

Zelenskyy said direct dialogue could open the way for a political settlement to the conflict, stressing that Ukraine would continue to defend its territory if no agreement was reached to end the war.