Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of attempting to deceive him with peace negotiations. Putin claims Zelensky’s move is a facade to secure more Western financial support under false pretences.
This accusation comes after Zelensky announced the creation of Ukraine’s ”Unmanned Systems Forces” on June 26, 2024, portrayed as a significant step towards modernizing Ukraine’s military capabilities. As reported by the Hindustan Times, a Russian military expert suggested that this new branch was intended to give Zelensky leverage to demand further aid from the US and its allies.
In several comments, Putin criticized Zelensky’s legitimacy, especially after his term officially ended without new elections due to martial law. According to Putin, any agreement signed by Zelensky would be ”illegitimate” .
”Zelensky is playing a minstrel act to the West, pretending to seek peace while aiming to extend the conflict for more aid,” Putin remarked in an interview, emphasizing his refusal to engage in talks with what he considers an ”illegitimate” leader.
The Kremlin has long been accused of running campaigns against Zelensky. Documents reviewed by The Washington Post show efforts to destabilize Zelensky’s leadership by targeting his image in the same way as most Western media trying to destabilize Putin’s image.
However, Putin seems to have screened and exposed what he describes as Zelensky’s deceptive peace overtures.
Zelensky, who has been vocal about his readiness for negotiations, has faced counter-claims from Putin that the Ukrainian president signed a decree banning negotiations with Moscow, thus making any potential talks legally void. Posts on X have echoed this sentiment, with some users questioning Zelensky’s real intentions and legitimacy.
Some support Putin’s narrative, others view it as another chapter in the long-standing information war between Russia and Ukraine, where both leaders use the media and public statements to sway global opinion.
When asked if Zelensky was prepared to meet with the Russian president, Zelensky indicated his willingness to do so.
“If that is the only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people, definitely we will go for this setup, for this meeting,” he said. “What is my attitude to him [Putin]? I will not be kind to him and I… consider him an enemy. And to be honest, I believe he considers me an enemy as well,” he stated.
Sources
- RT: Zelensky says he’s ready for talks with Putin
- Moscow Times: Putin Says Ukraine Peace Talks Possible, But Not With Zelensky
- AP: AP Interview: Zelenskyy says excluding Ukraine from US-Russia talks about war is ‘very dangerous’
- RT: Zelensky lacks legitimacy to sign any deal – Putin