Ukraine Rules Out Summit Meeting Between Ukrainian and Russian Presidents

Kyiv, September 18 (QNA) - The Ukrainian presidency announced that it currently rules out negotiations and a summit meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian News Agency quoted Mikhailo Podolyak, Adviser to the Ukrainian President, as saying that the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia or the meeting between Zelensky and Putin "will have no value or meaning." Podolyak attributed his view, that the talks are futile at the current stage, to two reasons, noting that the first reason is that Russia will try in the talks to stick to the gains it has achieved on the ground and legitimize them. He added that the second reason is that adhering to the status quo serves Russia only, as it will allow it to take a breath so that it can continue the attacks on the new front.
The Adviser to the Ukrainian President considered that it is possible to hold negotiations only if Russian forces withdrew from Ukrainian territory, saying then the value of compensation for the losses of the Russian war in Ukraine could be negotiated.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late last month that his country was seeking to host a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents. Hr explained that the aim of hosting this summit was to open the way to finding a radical solution to the Russian-Ukrainian war, pointing out that Turkey was making efforts to different levels in order to establish peace. (QNA)