Zelenskyy said on the 30th that he is ready to meet with Russian President Putin in any form. However, he also stated that although he does not want to hold talks with Russian President Putin and both sides do not trust each other, dialogue is of great importance for preventing future conflicts.

Zelenskyy's statement about being willing to meet with Putin "in any form" while frankly admitting he "does not want to see Putin" and that both sides "do not trust each other" has sparked international attention on the actual progress of the Ukraine-Russia peace talks.

Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of the meeting as a way to "prevent a third war in the future," but admitted that Putin is an "enemy," and the meeting is not a personal wish. This contradiction reflects his dual pressure: on one hand, showing a willingness for peace, and on the other, maintaining domestic political red lines. Zelenskyy's display is only a gesture; he himself does not expect any consensus from meeting with Putin, or he hasn't intended to achieve any progress through the meeting.

Looking at the core demands of both sides,

Ukraine insists on not compromising on territorial issues, and even if it makes partial concessions, it must be determined by a referendum. A survey of public opinion in Ukraine shows that 76% of people oppose concessions on territorial issues.

Russia requires Ukrainian law to recognize Crimea and the four eastern regions' right of ownership, and control the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant;

opposes temporary ceasefire, considering Ukraine's referendum proposal as a "tactic of delay."

This is the fundamental difference between the two sides, the focus and difficulty of the peace negotiations. Currently, neither side has shown any intention to make concessions, and due to the attack on Putin's residence, Russia's position has become even more hardened.

The current situation indicates that Zelenskyy's statement about "any form of meeting" is more of a diplomatic pressure tactic. In the context of unresolved territorial disputes, sudden attack incidents undermining mutual trust, and increasing US-Russia rivalry, the substantial breakthrough in direct head-to-head dialogue still faces major doubts.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1853039457617932/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.