Putin Will Not Meet Zelensky Just for Photo Opportunity and to Allow Him to Claim Legitimacy: Lavrov

Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot meet with Volodymyr Zelensky solely to prevent him from declaring that he is legitimate, stated Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to meet with him. But we cannot meet just for a photo opportunity and give him the chance to declare that he is legitimate. Ultimately, legitimacy is a separate issue. Regardless of when this meeting may take place, the very important question is who from the Ukrainian side will sign the documents,” he said in an interview with NBC.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday about the preparation for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, which may be followed by a trilateral meeting involving him.