Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that while he is open to holding peace talks with Ukraine, he will not negotiate directly with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin referred to Zelensky as “illegitimate” because his presidential term ended during martial law in Ukraine.

In response, President Zelensky accused Putin of being afraid of real negotiations. He said Putin’s actions only work to prolong the war, instead of seeking peace.

Since taking office on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump has been calling for an end to the conflict, placing pressure on both Russia and Ukraine. Trump has threatened more sanctions on Russia while claiming that Zelensky is ready for peace talks.

Putin said he is ready to allow representatives to join the talks, provided that both sides are interested in reaching a compromise. He also mentioned that the war could be over within two months if the West stopped supporting Ukraine.

Ukraine has voiced concerns about being excluded from any peace talks involving Russia and the U.S. Kyiv believes that Putin is trying to manipulate Trump to benefit Russia’s position in the negotiations.

Even though Trump has promised a quick ceasefire, the war continues to escalate. Recently, Russia claimed it shot down over 100 Ukrainian drones in an overnight attack, while Ukraine reported that Russia launched its own drone attacks.

Meanwhile, Russia has gained more ground, capturing a significant village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Despite these territorial advances, the war shows no signs of slowing down.