Zelensky and Putin can only meet after the battle of Donbas.
During a televised address, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that Volodymyr Zelensky would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin only after a major battle is expected in the eastern Donbas region.
According to Podolyak, Ukraine is ready for a big battle, where he stressed that Ukraine should definitely win – especially in the Donbas.
This would give Ukraine a stronger position in the talks, from which it can dictate a number of conditions.
For this his adviser is convinced that Zelensky would only then meet with Putin. According to him, this will take two or three weeks.
On the other hand, Moscow has laid gas pipelines in the Donbas, where the biggest offensive since the withdrawal of troops from the outskirts of Kiev is expected to take place.