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Negotiating with the de-facto Ukrainian leadership will not have any legal meaning, given that Kiev explicitly banned itself from engaging in talks with Moscow, according to Putin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In 2022, Zelensky, whose presidential term officially ended in May 2024, issued a decree prohibiting negotiations with Russia, and President Vladimir Putin specifically, a measure that remains in effect. Last week, Zelensky claimed the ban applies to all Ukrainian officials except himself, although the original decree did not specify a list of entities barred from talking to Russia, stating only that such negotiations were \u201cimpossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we start negotiations now, they will be illegitimate\u2026 Because when the current head of the regime, that\u2019s the only way to call [Zelensky] today, signed this decree, he was a somewhat legitimate president. But now he can\u2019t cancel it, because he is illegitimate. That\u2019s the trick, the catch, the trap,\u201d Putin explained, RT reported.<\/p>\n
However, the Ukrainian leadership could find a way out of this situation and circumvent the ban, Putin said, suggesting that the country\u2019s parliament could do that. \u201cAccording to Ukraine\u2019s constitution, the president of Ukraine, even under martial law, cannot extend his term. Only the representative branch can have its term extended, that\u2019s the Ukrainian parliament, while the president only has a five-year term, that\u2019s it,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Asked whether Moscow would actually talk to Zelensky if he expresses the desire to do so, Putin said the Ukrainian leader lacks any authority to actually strike any sort of deal with Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s possible to negotiate with anyone. However, due to his illegitimacy, [Zelensky] has no right to sign anything. If he wishes to participate in talks, I will deploy people who will conduct such negotiations,\u201d Putin said. He stressed that signing any deal would be a \u201cvery serious question\u201d and the agreement must \u201cguarantee the security of both Ukraine and Russia\u201d for a \u201cserious\u201d period of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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